Reports of rising cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China have sparked public concern, with images of crowded hospitals circulating online and comparisons drawn to the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, public health experts have emphasized that the virus is a routine respiratory pathogen, and the current situation reflects typical seasonal patterns rather than a new global health crisis.
HMPV, a respiratory virus that causes cold- and flu-like symptoms, has seen a spike in cases among children under 14 in northern China this winter, according to Chinese health authorities. Despite this increase, officials have sought to reassure the public. "Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Friday. "The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a smaller scale compared to the previous year."
The virus, first identified in the Netherlands in 2001, belongs to the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and typically results in mild symptoms, including cough, fever, and nasal congestion. However, like other respiratory viruses, it can lead to more severe complications such as pneumonia, particularly in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
In late December, Chinese authorities reported an uptick in HMPV cases as part of their annual update on respiratory illnesses. Videos of packed hospital wards prompted speculation on social media about another potential pandemic, reminiscent of Covid-19's emergence five years ago. However, health experts in China and abroad have dismissed such comparisons. "Metapneumovirus is just one of those cadre of viruses that causes upper respiratory infections and has been doing so for a very long time," said Amesh Adalja, an infectious-diseases physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "We're just getting better about testing it and naming it."
Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist and director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University, echoed these sentiments, noting that increased testing and surveillance have made such viruses more visible. "How many times do you get sick in the winter and have no idea what you've got?" she said. "It's a virus you'll get. You'll probably get it multiple times in your life."
Experts also pointed out that the heightened focus on HMPV reflects lingering anxieties from the Covid-19 pandemic. "There's just this tendency post-Covid to treat every infectious-disease anything as an emergency when it's not," said Adalja. This phenomenon is not new; last year, fears over childhood pneumonia cases in China caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae were similarly overblown.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that HMPV ranked last among respiratory viruses tested in late December, accounting for less than 2% of cases. "This is typically less severe than flu or Covid. It's basically like the common cold," said Katelyn Jetelina, a California-based epidemiologist.
China's stringent Covid-19 lockdowns may have contributed to the current surge by limiting exposure to routine pathogens like HMPV, making people more susceptible. "When you have a lot of people getting sick at once, you see things you may not see when it's spread out over time," Nuzzo explained.
To address the rise in respiratory illnesses, China has stepped up monitoring efforts. The National Disease Control and Prevention Administration has launched a pilot program to track cases of pneumonia of unknown origin, aiming to improve reporting and management. However, officials maintain that the current trends are consistent with seasonal norms.
Neighboring regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Cambodia are also keeping an eye on HMPV cases, though health authorities in these areas have reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm. "Metapneumovirus is like any other respiratory virus which causes the common cold," said Dr. Atul Goel, an official with India's Directorate General of Health Services.
As discussions continue, experts stress that preventive measures for HMPV mirror those for other respiratory viruses: hand hygiene, covering one's mouth when sneezing, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals. With no vaccine or antiviral treatment available, managing symptoms remains the primary course of action.
