An outbreak of a highly contagious virus in China has health officials on alert.
Cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, which can lead to respiratory illness, are reportedly on the rise in northern China, the country’s health officials said. Children under 14 are said to be the most affected.
Although not as well known as other viruses, HMPV is not new. The virus was first discovered in 2001 and belongs to the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Pandemic potential?
Videos showing overcrowded hospitals in China have surfaced on social media, sparking concern a potential pandemic.
An art teacher holds a poster to raise awareness against the spread of the HMPV virus in Mumbai, India on January 6, 2025. (Getty)
China’s foreign ministry attributed the rise to regular seasonal increases, saying in a statement on Friday: “Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season … the diseases appear to be less serious and spread on a smaller scale compared to the previous year.”
The CDC said it is tracking the virus through its National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS).
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“CDC is aware of reported increases in HMPV in China and is in regular contact with international partners and monitoring reports of increased disease,” a CDC spokesperson said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
“These reports are not currently a cause for concern in the US, although some transmission of HMPV can be expected throughout the year, particularly during the winter respiratory virus season.”
The virus was first discovered in 2001 and belongs to the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to the CDC. (iStock)
The agency also said, “We can expect existing surveillance systems to quickly detect any increase in HMPV cases in the US.”
“CDC will continue to monitor and provide important updates to the public.”
According to the same source, influenza A is currently leading to hospitalizations in China.
“There is no reason to feel that it has taken hold and is becoming the next pandemic, but on the other hand, it’s hard to know the whole story.”
dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine a senior medical analyst at NYU Langone Health and Fox News noted that HMPV is generally mild but can lead to pneumonia.
“There’s no reason to think it has taken hold and is becoming the next pandemic, but on the other hand, it’s hard to know the whole story because China is potentially hiding information,” he told Fox News Digital.
“CDC is aware of reported increases in HMPV in China and is in regular contact with international partners and monitoring reports of increased disease,” a CDC spokesperson said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital. (iStock)
dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a biotech company in San Francisco, noted that most people become infected before the age of 5.
“It poses a unique risk to children, but is not considered to have broader pandemic potential,” he told Fox News Digital.
Symptoms and spread
Anyone can become infected with HMPV, but the most at-risk groups include young children, older adults and immunocompromised individuals, according to the CDC.
In most people, the symptoms of the virus are similar to the common cold – fever, nasal congestion and difficulty breathing, according to the health agency.
In cases of severe disease, HMPV can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.
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Most people will begin to feel symptoms within three to six days after exposure, the CDC noted.
“Similar to RSV and the flu, it can be difficult to small childrenthe elderly and in people with underlying conditions like asthma or COPD,” Scarpino said.
HPMV is usually spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or close contact.
China’s foreign ministry attributed the jump to a regular seasonal increase, saying in a statement on Friday: “Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season.” (iStock)
One can also become infected by touching contaminated objects or surfaces.
It is a seasonal virusthe CDC noted — in the US, HMPV primarily circulates from winter to spring.
“It’s respiratory virus season, so it’s mixed with flu, COVID and RSV,” Siegel noted.
“It can be difficult in young children, the elderly and people with other illnesses.”
Glanville noted that HMPV is like RSV in that it causes similar respiratory symptoms — sore throat, coughing or wheezing, fever and runny nose.
“HMPV products cold-like symptoms in most adults, but it poses a higher risk of bronchitis, pneumonia and death in infants, and also has an increased risk of severe disease in older adults and people with weakened immune systems,” he told Fox News Digital.
Frequent hand washing is one of the preventive steps recommended by the CDC. (iStock)
Samuel Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences and professor of health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, agrees that the overall risk in the US is low.
“Most everyone will have it at least once in their childhood,” he said. “In the US, it tends to peak a little later than the flu, but still in the winter months.”
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“Based on what I’m seeing, there’s no concern that the pandemic is being triggered by HMPV, but we’re all closely monitoring the situation in China,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Right now the US is experiencing significant epidemics of COVID, influenza, RSV and norovirus, and HMPV spreads relatively little in the US”
Treatment and prevention
According to the CDC, HMPV can be diagnosed with two different types of tests that detect the virus.
The agency recommends that healthcare workers be tested for the virus in winter and spring.
There is currently no vaccine treatment.
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“While there is an RSV vaccine, the HMPV vaccine has not been approved,” Glanville told Fox News Digital.
“As such, HMPV is currently treated with rest, hydration, NSAIDs, cold medicineand in some cases inhalers and steroids.”
“While there is an RSV vaccine, the HMPV vaccine has not been approved,” an infectious disease expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
The CDC recommends the following prevention methods on its website.
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
– Avoid close contact with sick people
– Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
– Avoid sharing cups and cutlery with others in the presence of symptoms
– Stay home if you are sick
– Sanitize common areas and objects
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“Individuals should ensure that they are vaccinated against COVIDflu and RSV and to take precautions like rapid testing and masking if they have symptoms,” advises Scarpino.
“We now have rapid, over-the-counter tests that check for influenza A, influenza B and COVID at the same time.”
