The US is monitoring cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections after a reported surge in cases across China.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was currently looking at reports of increasing cases in the US but played down any concern.
It comes as Indonesia has started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia amid concern over rising HMPV infections across the region.
Those travelling to Bali will have to fill out a form three days before their arrival to the island providing a record of passengers’ health, according to local health authorities.
Singapore said on Wednesday it had witnessed a spike in HMPV infections at the end of 2024 but added that it was consistent with expectations due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious disease expert associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University, said it was “vital” for China to share information in a “timely manner”.
The virus, which causes flu or cold-like symptoms, has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
Key Points
- Bali ramps up monitoring of arrivals from China and Malaysia amind HMPV outbreak
- Doctors say it is vital for China to share infection data
- India ramps up monitoring as cases rise
- Everything we know about HMPV cases in the UK
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
12:51
Alexander Butler
US monitoring cases
11:20
Alexander Butler
The US is monitoring cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections after a reported surge in cases across China.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was currently looking at reports of increasing cases in the US but played down any concern.
It comes as Indonesia has started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia amid concern over rising HMPV infections across the region.
Pictured: Outbreak in China
10:44
Alexander Butler
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
10:00
Alexander Butler
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
09:25
Alexander Butler
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
09:00
Alexander Butler
ICYMI: Bali ramps up monitoring of arrivals from China and Malaysia amid HMPV outbreak
08:30
Maroosha Muzaffar
Indonesian authorities have begun monitoring flights from China and Malaysia due to concerns over the increasing number of HMPV infections.
According to the local health authorities, nationals from China and Malaysia arriving in Bali have to fill out a health pass three days before their arrival to the island to keep a record of passengers’ health issues like body temperature, cold or flu symptoms.
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
08:00
Maroosha Muzaffar
A surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China has prompted some alarm and led to fears of a possible worldwide outbreak.
With reports of overcrowding in Chinese hospitals, leaders in the country are attempting to control a new wave of the virus with a spike in cases in northern regions, particularly amongst children.
A surge in cases has also been reported in India, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms. Most cases are mild, but infection can increase health risks - particularly for the elderly, young children and people with a low immune system - and lead to severe complications such as pneumonia.
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
07:30
Maroosha Muzaffar
An increase in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in China has received widespread media coverage, but leading scientists and public health experts say there isn’t yet a cause for alarm.
Chinese health authorities last month reported a rise in children aged 14 and under testing positive for HMPV as part of a broader update on the respiratory virus season.
Photos and videos posted on social media in recent days show crowded hospitals in China, sparking concerns over the virus spreading to other countries and causing a Covid-like outbreak.
The concerns come just as the world completes five years since the novel coronavirus infection was first reported in China’s Wuhan.
However, experts emphasise that HMPV is neither new nor poses an unusual threat to global health.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
07:00
Alexander Butler
Singapore experienced spike in HMPV cases at end of 2024
06:30
Maroosha Muzaffar
Singapore experienced a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections at the end of 2024, the ministry of health said, but added that it was consistent with previous year-end trends due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
China, India, and Malaysia have also reported spikes in HMPV cases and Bali authorities have ramped up monitoring of Chinese and Malaysian nationals arriving in the city.
Singapore’s ministry of health has advised practising good hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette and hand washing practices to mitigate the spread.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
06:05
Maroosha Muzaffar
China is experiencing a surge in infections of a respiratory virus, leading to reports of overcrowded hospitals, new monitoring measures and public concerns about an outbreak.
The virus, identified as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
The outbreak comes five years after the world was first alerted to the emergence of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which later turned into a global pandemic with seven million deaths reported.
Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China emerged on social media platforms and local reports compared the scenes to the initial outbreak of Covid.
Health authorities are implementing new measures to monitor and manage the spread of pneumonia cases of unknown origin. Nonetheless, Beijing has downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
05:00
Alexander Butler
Nepal to step up testing for HMPV
04:49
Maroosha Muzaffar
Nepal plans to test respiratory illness patients for HMPV to assess its spread this winter, The Kathmandu Post reported.
While the virus has been detected in the country in the past, officials aim to confirm its presence by testing those with influenza-like symptoms who test negative for influenza.
“Although infection of human metapneumovirus is not new to our country and has been detected several times in the past, we have decided to carry out testing on specimens from patients suffering from influenza-like symptoms who test negative for influenza virus,” Dr Yadu Chandra Ghimire, director of the epidemiology and disease control division.
Dr Ghimire advised against panic, saying: “This virus has been circulating in our communities for years. We usually don’t test unless there is a spike in new cases. We have decided to carry out testing, as the rise in infections in our neighbours have become headline news”.
Singapore experienced spike in HMPV cases at end of 2024
04:30
Maroosha Muzaffar
Singapore experienced a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections at the end of 2024, the ministry of health said, but added that it was consistent with previous year-end trends due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
China, India, and Malaysia have also reported spikes in HMPV cases and Bali authorities have ramped up monitoring of Chinese and Malaysian nationals arriving in the city.
Singapore’s ministry of health has advised practising good hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette and hand washing practices to mitigate the spread.
How HMPV is treated
04:00
Alexander Butler
Like most common respiratory illnesses, HMPV usually clears up on its own.
Treatment of symptoms is usually in the form of medications to control pain and fever, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol
Patients with more severe wheezing and coughing may require a temporary inhaler, according to the American Lung Association.
How long has HMPV been circulating?
03:44
Maroosha Muzaffar
The virus was first identified in 2001, but researchers believe it has been circulating in humans for at least six decades. Despite its longevity, it lacks the name recognition of influenza, Covid-19, or RSV, according to Dr Leigh Howard, an associate professor of paediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
One reason for its obscurity is that it is rarely referred to by name, except in cases where individuals are hospitalised with a confirmed infection, Dr Howard told The New York Times.
“The clinical features are really difficult to distinguish from other viral illnesses, and we don’t routinely test for HMPV the way we do for Covid, flu or RSV,” Dr Howard said.
“So most infections go unrecognised and are chalked up to whatever respiratory thing is going around.”
Bali ramps up monitoring of arrivals from China and Malaysia amind HMPV outbreak
03:02
Maroosha Muzaffar
In the wake of the rise in HMPV infections in China and Malaysia, authorities in Bali have started monitoring foreign arrivals from these countries.
According to the local health authorities, nationals from China and Malaysia arriving in Bali have to fill out a health pass three days before their arrival to the island to keep a record of passengers’ health issues like body temperature, cold or flu symptoms.
How was Human metapneumovirus discovered?
03:00
Alexander Butler
Researchers in the Netherlands discovered the virus in 2001. Scientists collected 28 samples from children in the Netherlands who had unexplained respiratory illnesses.
No recognised illnesses were detected in their blood, despite the fact that a number of them had severe illnessess and required mechanical breathing.
Before being viewed under an electron microscope, the samples were grown in several cell types from dogs, chickens, and monkeys.
How to prevent HMPV transmission
01:00
Alexander Butler
HMPV (human metapneumovirus) spreads through direct contact with infected individuals or by touching contaminated surfaces, experts say.
Unlike viruses like flu, RSV, and Covid-19, there is no vaccine for HMPV, Dr Carla Garcia Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Children’s Medical Center in Plano, Texas says. “We don’t have that advantage of priming or boosting our immune system to fight these viruses. But still, everything else that we learned for Covid can apply to metapneumovirus.”
She told CBS News: “If somebody’s sick, try to avoid crowding so they don’t expose everybody, especially the vulnerable people. If that person is sick and can not avoid going to a place where other people are, then try to use a mask, use cough and sneezing etiquette and good hand washing.”
Can HMPV virus spread to other countries?
00:01
Alexander Butler
Hong Kong has reported a few cases of HMPV. Neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Taiwan are keeping a close watch on the situation. Cambodia’s Communicable Disease Control Department has issued warnings about HMPV, noting its similarity to Covid-19 and influenza.
Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control has said the virus’s higher risks for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
In neighbouring India, officials said there is no need for panic as HMPV is “like any other respiratory virus”.
“There has been news doing the rounds about a metapneumovirus outbreak in China. Let me be very clear on that count. Metapneumovirus is like any other respiratory virus which causes the common cold, and in the very old and the very young it could cause flu-like symptoms,” Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) official Dr Atul Goel said.
Doctor says it is vital for China to share infection data
Tuesday 7 January 2025 23:00
Alexander Butler
A disease expert has urged China to share infection data amid an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) which has spread across four countries.
Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious disease expert associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University, said it was “vital” for China to share information in a “timely manner”.
“Also, we will need genomic data confirming that HMPV is the culprit, and that there aren’t any significant mutations of concern. Such genomic data will also guide vaccine development,” he told MailOnline.
Current situation in China
Tuesday 7 January 2025 21:00
Alexander Butler
China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration recently acknowledged an increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV.
In response, it has launched a pilot programme to track pneumonia of unknown origin, aiming to improve the identification and management of such cases.
This involves closer coordination between laboratories and health agencies and ensuring timely reporting of new cases.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday the disease was spreading at “a smaller scale compared to the previous year”.
This mirrors seasonal trends seen in other countries, including the UK, which is experiencing similar spikes in respiratory illnesses this winter.
More information needed, experts say
Tuesday 7 January 2025 20:00
Alexander Butler
Dr Andrew Catchpole, chief scientific officer at London-based research organisation hVIVO, said “more information on the specific strain” of the virus was needed, but that experts did not consider it to have pandemic potential.
“HMPV is usually detected in the winter periods but it does seem that the rates of serious infection may be higher in China than what we would expect in a normal year,” he told the Evening Standard.
“We need more information on the specific strain that is circulating to start to understand if this is the usual circulating strains or if the virus causing high infection rates in China has some differences.”
Experts explain: How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China?
Tuesday 7 January 2025 19:00
Alexander Butler
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Tuesday 7 January 2025 18:00
Alexander Butler
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
Tuesday 7 January 2025 17:00
Alexander Butler
More information needed, experts say
Tuesday 7 January 2025 15:56
Alexander Butler
Dr Andrew Catchpole, chief scientific officer at London-based research organisation hVIVO, said “more information on the specific strain” of the virus was needed, but that experts did not consider it to have pandemic potential.
“HMPV is usually detected in the winter periods but it does seem that the rates of serious infection may be higher in China than what we would expect in a normal year,” he told the Evening Standard.
“We need more information on the specific strain that is circulating to start to understand if this is the usual circulating strains or if the virus causing high infection rates in China has some differences.”
US monitoring HMPV cases
Tuesday 7 January 2025 14:06
Alexander Butler
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently “monitoring” reports of increasing cases of human metapneumovirus in China’s northern provinces, according to reports.
“CDC is aware of reported increases of HMPV in China and is in regular contact with international partners and monitoring reports of increased disease,” a spokesperson for the CDC said.
“These reports are not currently a cause for concern in the U.S.,” the spokesperson added.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Tuesday 7 January 2025 14:04
Alexander Butler
No global health emergency
Tuesday 7 January 2025 12:01
Stuti Mishra
The World Health Organization has not classified the increase in HMPV infections as a global health emergency, but the UN agency continues to monitor the situation closely.
Professor Jill Carr, a virologist at Flinders University, says HMPV outbreak is very different from Covid, “where the virus was completely new in humans and arose from a spillover from animals”.
“HMPV can certainly make people very sick,” she notes, “but the current situation in China with high HMPV cases is very different from the threats initially posed by SARS-CoV-2.”
Current situation in China
Tuesday 7 January 2025 11:45
Alexander Butler
China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration recently acknowledged an increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV.
In response, it has launched a pilot programme to track pneumonia of unknown origin, aiming to improve the identification and management of such cases.
This involves closer coordination between laboratories and health agencies and ensuring timely reporting of new cases.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday the disease was spreading at “a smaller scale compared to the previous year”.
This mirrors seasonal trends seen in other countries, including the UK, which is experiencing similar spikes in respiratory illnesses this winter.
Pictured: People wait to be seen for HMPV in China
Tuesday 7 January 2025 11:30
Alexander Butler
What Is HMPV?
Tuesday 7 January 2025 11:15
Alexander Butler
Human metapneumovirus, first identified in 2001 by Dutch scientists, is a common respiratory virus known to cause mild cold-like symptoms in most people. However, it can lead to severe illness in infants, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions.
Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, describes HMPV as one of many viruses contributing to winter pressure on healthcare systems.
“It causes respiratory illness in babies and the elderly, which can result in hospitalisation. For most other age groups, it simply causes cold-like symptoms,” he says.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Tuesday 7 January 2025 10:59
Alexander Butler
US monitoring HMPV cases
Tuesday 7 January 2025 10:08
Alexander Butler
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently “monitoring” reports of increasing cases of human metapneumovirus in China’s northern provinces, according to reports.
“CDC is aware of reported increases of HMPV in China and is in regular contact with international partners and monitoring reports of increased disease,” a spokesperson for the CDC said.
“These reports are not currently a cause for concern in the U.S.,” the spokesperson added.
How worried should you be about HMPV outbreak in China?
Tuesday 7 January 2025 09:50
Alexander Butler
Pictured: Public health mural in India
Tuesday 7 January 2025 09:35
Alexander Butler
Expert says ‘situation is very different to Covid-19 pandemic’
Tuesday 7 January 2025 09:15
Jabed Ahmed
Jill Carr, a virologist in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, Australia, said the situation is “very different to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
She told Politico: “The virus [Covid-19] was completely new in humans and arose from a spill-over from animals and spread to pandemic levels because there was no prior exposures or protective immunity in the community.”
Doctor says it is vital for China to share infection data
Tuesday 7 January 2025 09:13
Alexander Butler
A disease expert has urged China to share infection data amid an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) which has spread across four countries.
Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious disease expert associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University, said it was “vital” for China to share information in a “timely manner”.
“Also, we will need genomic data confirming that HMPV is the culprit, and that there aren’t any significant mutations of concern. Such genomic data will also guide vaccine development,” he told MailOnline.
Can HMPV virus spread to other countries?
Tuesday 7 January 2025 08:55
Maroosha Muzaffar
Hong Kong has reported a few cases of HMPV. Neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Taiwan are keeping a close watch on the situation. Cambodia’s Communicable Disease Control Department has issued warnings about HMPV, noting its similarity to Covid-19 and influenza.
Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control has said the virus’s higher risks for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
In neighbouring India, officials said there is no need for panic as HMPV is “like any other respiratory virus”.
“There has been news doing the rounds about a metapneumovirus outbreak in China. Let me be very clear on that count. Metapneumovirus is like any other respiratory virus which causes the common cold, and in the very old and the very young it could cause flu-like symptoms,” Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) official Dr Atul Goel said.
Reassuring citizens and tourists, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said: “I can assure you that the Chinese government cares about the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners coming to China”, adding that “it is safe to travel in China”.
Read more by Stuti Mishra here:
Chinese government pushes back on claims of HMPV outbreak
Tuesday 7 January 2025 08:35
Maroosha Muzaffar
The Chinese government has pushed back on claims that HMPV cases were skyrocketing in the nation.
“Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season,” the Chinese foreign ministry said. “The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a smaller scale compared to the previous year.”
A report in state-run Global Times quoted Li Tongzeng, an expert on respiratory and infectious diseases at Beijing You’an Hospital as saying that HMPV is “not a new virus” and that it has been detected in children in cities such as Beijing, Southwest China’s Chongqing, and South China’s Guangdong province.
The Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention in East China’s Jiangsu Province advised residents to remain vigilant against potential infections in June last year, the outlet reported.
It also noted that “HMPV is currently prevalent in the US”, spreads through respiratory droplets and has an incubation period of three to five days.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Tuesday 7 January 2025 08:15
Maroosha Muzaffar
China is experiencing a surge in infections of a respiratory virus, leading to reports of overcrowded hospitals, new monitoring measures and public concerns about an outbreak.
The virus, identified as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
The outbreak comes five years after the world was first alerted to the emergence of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which later turned into a global pandemic with seven million deaths reported.
Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China emerged on social media platforms and local reports compared the scenes to the initial outbreak of Covid.
Health authorities are implementing new measures to monitor and manage the spread of pneumonia cases of unknown origin. Nonetheless, Beijing has downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.
Read more here:
How to prevent HMPV transmission
Tuesday 7 January 2025 07:46
Maroosha Muzaffar
HMPV (human metapneumovirus) spreads through direct contact with infected individuals or by touching contaminated surfaces, experts say.
Unlike viruses like flu, RSV, and Covid-19, there is no vaccine for HMPV, Dr Carla Garcia Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Children’s Medical Center in Plano, Texas says. “We don’t have that advantage of priming or boosting our immune system to fight these viruses. But still, everything else that we learned for Covid can apply to metapneumovirus.”
She told CBS News: “If somebody’s sick, try to avoid crowding so they don’t expose everybody, especially the vulnerable people. If that person is sick and can not avoid going to a place where other people are, then try to use a mask, use cough and sneezing etiquette and good hand washing.”
Expert says no sign of serious global issue with HMPV infections
Tuesday 7 January 2025 07:24
Maroosha Muzaffar
Prof Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, has offered reassurances that there are no signs of a more serious global issue with HMPV, despite a recent increase in diagnoses in England.
He told the Science Media Centre: “In England we have seen a fairly marked increase in recent weeks – so far the peak per cent positivity is a little over what it was this time last year so no major difference to usual, unless infections positivity rates continue to increase in coming weeks.
“So overall, I don’t think there [are] currently any signs of a more serious global issue.”
He added: “HMPV is a quite common respiratory infection that peaks in winter. Almost every child will have at least one infection with HMPV by their fifth birthday and we can expect to go on to to have multiple reinfections throughout life.”
HMPV mainly affects babies and elderly, says Oxford expert
Tuesday 7 January 2025 06:40
Maroosha Muzaffar
Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, an expert on infections and immunity at the University of Oxford, says that HMPV mostly affects babies and the elderly. “In most other age groups it simply causes the symptoms of a cold,” he tells the Science Media Centre.
“Human metapneumovirus virus is a common respiratory virus which was first identified almost a quarter of a century ago by Dutch scientists,” Sir Andrew says.
“It is one of the many viruses which circulate in the winter and add to the winter pressures on the NHS.
“The reports of respiratory infections in China in the past few days appear to be attributed to both influenza and this human metapneumovirus, which is rather similar to the situation in the UK this week. A vaccine for a similar virus, RSV, was launched by the NHS in 2024 and new vaccines are being developed which could protect against both RSV and human metapneumovirus in one jab.”
Seven cases of HMPV infections in India after two more cases detected in Nagpur
Tuesday 7 January 2025 06:03
Maroosha Muzaffar
Two children, aged seven and 14, have tested positive for HMPV in Nagpur in Maharashtra, bringing the total number of reported cases of the respiratory illness this season to seven.
On 3 January, the children were taken to a private hospital in the Ramdaspeth area of the city for treatment of fever and cough.
Following diagnostic tests, hospital authorities confirmed the presence of HMPV, a respiratory virus that affects both the upper and lower respiratory tract, causing symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and sore throat.
Before this, two cases of HMPV were reported in Tamil Nadu, two in Karnataka and one in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
HMPV has been in circulation worldwide since it was first identified in 2001 and cases are not uncommon in India.
Everything we know about HMPV cases in the UK – and how to get a test
Tuesday 7 January 2025 06:00
Maroosha Muzaffar
A surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China has prompted some alarm and led to fears of a possible worldwide outbreak.
With reports of overcrowding in Chinese hospitals, leaders in the country are attempting to control a new wave of the virus with a spike in cases in northern regions, particularly amongst children.
A surge in cases has also been reported in India, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms. Most cases are mild, but infection can increase health risks - particularly for the elderly, young children and people with a low immune system - and lead to severe complications such as pneumonia.
Read more here:
Chinese government pushes back on claims of HMPV outbreak
Tuesday 7 January 2025 05:33
Maroosha Muzaffar
The Chinese government has pushed back on claims that HMPV cases were skyrocketing in the nation.
“Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season,” the Chinese foreign ministry said. “The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a smaller scale compared to the previous year.”
A report in state-run Global Times quoted Li Tongzeng, an expert on respiratory and infectious diseases at Beijing You’an Hospital as saying that HMPV is “not a new virus” and that it has been detected in children in cities such as Beijing, Southwest China’s Chongqing, and South China’s Guangdong province.
The Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention in East China’s Jiangsu Province advised residents to remain vigilant against potential infections in June last year, the outlet reported.
It also noted that “HMPV is currently prevalent in the US”, spreads through respiratory droplets and has an incubation period of three to five days.
Is there treatment for HMPV?
Tuesday 7 January 2025 05:04
Maroosha Muzaffar
Currently, there are no antiviral medications specifically for HMPV. Treatment focuses on supportive care to manage moderate or severe symptoms, according to experts.
“If you’re wheezing, we’ll give bronchodilators,” Dr Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, told ABC News, referring to medications that relax and open airways while helping to clear mucus from the lungs.
“If you’re dehydrated, we provide fluids, and we work to reduce the fever.”
Dr Chin-Hong also noted that co-infections, such as bacterial infections, can occur in some cases, which may require antibiotics for treatment.
Chinese authorities monitoring HMPV outbreak
Tuesday 7 January 2025 04:54
Maroosha Muzaffar
Chinese health officials are monitoring an increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus that can cause both upper and lower respiratory diseases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), data from China indicates “a recent rise in acute respiratory infections”. However, the WHO clarified that “the overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China this year are lower than last year”.
Chinese officials have generally played down the outbreak, though state media confirmed cases had been “detected in children in a number of Chinese cities such as Beijing, Southwest China’s Chongqing, and South China’s Guangdong Province”.
Authorities in Beijing have released new guidance for the public “on how to prevent the disease including frequently washing hands and increasing immunity”.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday that while the agency is “monitoring reports of increased disease” in China, these reports are “not currently a cause for concern in the US”.
Maharashtra health minister urges public not to panic
Tuesday 7 January 2025 04:25
Maroosha Muzaffar
Maharashtra health minister Prakash Abitkar has reassured the public not to panic over HMPV, as no cases have been reported in the state.
“We are aware that this virus has been around for a while. Surveillance is underway and we will follow the Centre’s guidelines.
Hence, let us stay positive and not panic,” Mr Abitkar told The Indian Express.
Experts have described the virus as mild and self-limiting, mostly causing cold-like symptoms.
High-risk groups include children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
Precautionary measures, such as good hygiene and covering the mouth while sneezing or coughing, have been advised.