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China is facing a significant increase in infections from a respiratory virus identified as Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).
This development has filled hospitals, prompted emergency measures and raised public concerns about an outbreak similar to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Infections have increased mainly in the northern provinces of China during the winter, especially affecting children. Photos and videos from hospitals show patients wearing masks, while authorities have launched investigations to manage the situation.
The outbreak comes five years after the world was first alerted to the emergence of a new coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which later turned into a global pandemic with seven million reported deaths.
Health authorities are implementing emergency measures to monitor and manage the spread. However, Beijing has downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on Friday: "Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season."
"Diseases appear to be less severe and spread to a lesser degree compared to last year," she said.
What is HMPV?
Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to the common cold and flu. While the disease is usually mild, it can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, especially in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
The virus is not new, but has gained attention amid a surge in cases, particularly among children under 14 in northern China.
First identified in 2001, HMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus that spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces. Infections have previously been identified in various countries, including the United Kingdom.
Its symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion and fatigue, with an incubation period of three to six days. Unlike Covid-19, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for HMPV, treatment mainly involves managing symptoms.
Increasing cases of HMPV in China
The increase in cases coincides with colder weather and increased indoor activity, conditions that typically promote the spread of respiratory viruses. Health officials point out that this increase is in line with seasonal trends.
China's National Administration for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported an increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV, during the winter.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared the situation a global health emergency, but the increase in cases has prompted authorities to strengthen monitoring systems.
A pilot program has been launched to track pneumonia of unknown origin, ensuring that laboratories and health agencies report and manage cases more effectively, state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing an administration official at a news conference.
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