Several countries neighboring China have issued public health updates on human metapneumovirus (HMPV) amid a reported rise of the respiratory infection in China.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Office in China for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The reported increase in HMPV cases have sparked global concern, as recently there have been several cases reported outside of mainland China—in Hong Kong and Malaysia. Neither the Chinese government nor WHO have declared a public health emergency regarding the virus.
Five years ago, the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in China, and later impacted dozens of countries, becoming a global pandemic that has killed more than 7 million people. Several viruses, including bird flu, norovirus, and RSV, are circulating globally and in the U.S. Virus outbreaks pose public health risks by significantly impacting vulnerable populations and straining medical systems and resources.
What to Know
HMPV, discovered in 2001, often causes symptoms similar to the common cold, including cough, fever, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, wheezing, shortness of breath, and rashes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, the risk of severe illness is higher for people who are younger than five or older than 65, with those cases taking longer to recover from.
The virus can also cause complications like bronchiolitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma or an ear infection, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It's fairly common in children, causing up to 12 percent of childhood respiratory illnesses. Cases are typically fairly mild. Cases are typically most common in the late winter and spring, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is no vaccine for HMPV.
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Like other similar viruses, HMPV usually spreads from person to person through droplets from coughing and sneezing, through human contact such as hugging or kissing, and through touching surfaces and objects contaminated with the virus and then the mouth, nose or eyes.
Recent news reports warn of a viral outbreak of HMPV in China, but U.S. and Chinese officials have yet to confirm this. Official reports from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that rates of multiple flu-like illnesses are on the rise in China, according to data up to the last week of 2024, and cases of HMPV infection had risen among people who are younger than 14 years old and living in northern provinces.
Several health officials from neighboring countries are issuing statements to quell concerns and note that the virus has been around in recent years and reminding residents there is always an uptick in respiratory illness during the colder seasons.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Atul Goel from the Directorate General of Health Services of India said on Friday, per India TV: "There is news doing the rounds about a Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China. However, we have analysed the data of the respiratory outbreaks in the country (India) and there is no substantial increase in the December 2024 data and no cases which have been reported in large numbers from any of our institutions. There is nothing to be alarmed about the present situation."
According to The Indian Express, India's Kerala state Health Minister Veena George said: "Respiratory diseases especially in children and the elderly are being closely monitored. That apart, people coming from other countries, including China, will also be monitored if they develop respiratory symptoms. However, the present situation does not demand any restrictions for expatriates."
The Malaysia Ministry of Health said in a Saturday statement, per the New Straits Times: "This is not a new disease and in this country, hMPV infections are not required to be reported or notified according to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
The increase in acute respiratory infections at the end of the year and the beginning of the next is an expected phenomenon, consistent with similar trends reported in other countries, especially those experiencing colder seasons, such as China.
As a measure to prevent and control the spread of infections, the ministry is constantly monitoring from time to time, both domestically and internationally."
According to the Pakistan's Samaa TV, Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services "has directed the National Institute of Health (NIH) to closely monitor the virus. A video link meeting involving health officials and medical experts has been scheduled to assess the situation and formulate a response strategy."
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday, per The Independent: "Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season. The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a smaller scale compared to the previous year."
What Happens Next
The U.S. is continuing to grapple with high levels of respiratory illnesses, which typically spread more in colder months.
The CDC's respiratory illness forecast predicts that the COVID-19 season peak could occur later this season. Influenza typically peaks between December and February, while RSV's season peaks vary by region.
