An outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been reported in the northern provinces of China, causing a sharp increase in cases, especially among children. About January 5 informs edition of The Independent.
According to local media, the new virus is spreading rapidly, causing significant strain on the health care system. Photos and videos of overcrowded hospitals where masked people are waiting for medical help are circulating on social networks. In some cases, the situation resembles the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019.
China’s health authorities are already taking extraordinary measures to control the spread of the infection. Medical institutions work in an intensified mode, and in some regions, intensified monitoring of disease cases has been introduced. However, the authorities in Beijing downplay the significance of the events, calling the outbreak of the virus a typical winter phenomenon.
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an airborne respiratory virus. Symptoms of the disease are similar to a cold or flu: fever, cough, runny nose and general weakness. In most cases, the infection is mild, but in at-risk groups, including infants, the elderly, and patients with weakened immune systems, the disease can cause severe complications, including pneumonia.
The HMPV outbreak comes five years after the novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, which later led to a global pandemic. Although the current virus does not have the large-scale impact of COVID-19, the situation is worrisome given the strain on China’s medical system and the high rate of morbidity among children.
Medical experts call for caution and increased monitoring to avoid further spread of the virus.
