Five years after the Covid-19 pandemic, China is now grappling with a surge in cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus.
Several media reports and social media posts suggest that the virus is spreading rapidly across the country. Some claim that hospitals and crematoriums are overwhelmed by the influx of patients.
Videos circulating online show crowded hospitals, with users reporting multiple viruses, including Influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19, as the culprits behind the surge in respiratory illnesses.
Reports indicate that the spike in HMPV cases has led to a notable increase in sudden deaths, particularly affecting individuals aged 40 to 80.
“China is facing a surge in multiple viruses, including Influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums. Children’s hospitals are particularly strained by rising pneumonia and ‘white lung’ cases,” stated a post on X by the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) handle.
Data from the Chinese CDC in late December revealed a fluctuating but increasing positive rate of HMPV cases among children aged 14 and below, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
What Is HMPV?
Discovered in 2001, HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, which also includes Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). However, serological studies suggest that the virus has been present in humans for over 60 years and is globally distributed.
HMPV can cause both upper and lower respiratory diseases in people of all ages, with young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems being most vulnerable.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
Li Tongzeng, a chief doctor at Beijing You’an Hospital, explained that HMPV spreads through respiratory droplets, direct contact such as handshakes, or touching contaminated objects. The virus has an incubation period of three to five days.
Preventive measures include wearing masks, frequent hand washing, and boosting immunity.
Experts caution against the use of antiviral drugs to treat HMPV. In an interview with the state-backed National Business Daily, a respiratory expert in Shanghai warned against blindly using antiviral medications, as no vaccine exists for HMPV, and its symptoms often resemble those of a common cold.
In 2023, HMPV cases were reported in the Netherlands, Britain, Finland, Australia, Canada, the US, and China.
(Inputs from IANS)
