New Year, New Virus: China ‘overwhelmed’ by mystery new virus outbreak 5 years on from Covid

HONG KONG – China is experiencing a surge in infections of a respiratory virus, leading to overcrowded hospitals, emergency 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 said the scenes of an outbreak of HMPV were similar to the initial Covid outbreak.

Health authorities are implementing emergency measures to monitor and manage the spread. However, Beijing has downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday: “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,” she said.

• What is HMPV?

Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to the common cold and influenza. While the illness is typically mild, it can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, particularly in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

The virus is not new but has gained attention amid a surge in cases, particularly in children under 14 in northern China.

First identified in 2001, HMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus that spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces. The infections have been previously identified in various countries, including the United Kingdom.

Its symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and fatigue, with an incubation period of three to six days. Unlike Covid-19, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for HMPV; treatment primarily involves managing symptoms.