Reports of increasing cases of the flu-like virus HMPV in China have sparked global concern, but experts have dismissed comparisons to the Covid-19 outbreak five years ago.
HMPV, or human metapneumovirus, typically causes mild upper respiratory infections with symptoms such as coughing, fever, and a blocked nose.
While vulnerable groups, including young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, may experience more severe symptoms, public health advice remains straightforward: maintain good hygiene, stay in ventilated spaces, and avoid spreading the virus. Experts emphasize that HMPV has circulated for decades, and most people have some level of immunity.
China’s National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported a rise in HMPV and other respiratory infections among children but noted that overall disease activity is less intense than last year.
The WHO confirmed that respiratory infection levels in China are within the normal winter range, reassuring that the situation does not pose a significant global health threat.
