hMPV: The Virus Spreading Through China

Reports of hospitals crowded with masked patients in China have fueled fears of a COVID-style pandemic triggered by human metapneumovirus (hMPV). Discovered in 2001, hMPV has been circulating for decades; evidence of its presence goes back to at least the 1950s. It behaves much like other respiratory infections, with wintertime surges that coincide with cold weather when people spend more time indoors. Experts stress that concerns about a hMPV pandemic are unwarranted.

For most healthy individuals, hMPV causes flu-like symptoms, including cough, fever, and a stuffy nose. The virus spreads via direct person-to-person contact or through contaminated surfaces. While most recover without complications, certain groups are at higher risk: children under two, older adults, and people whose immune systems are weakened by chronic illnesses like advanced cancer or conditions such as asthma. In these vulnerable populations, hMPV can sometimes progress to severe breathing difficulties and require hospitalization.

China is currently experiencing a typical seasonal spike in respiratory infections, a pattern also reflected in other northern hemisphere countries like the USA and the UK. According to Chinese authorities, hospitals are not overwhelmed, and no emergency declarations have occurred. Global health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have not reported any unusual outbreak patterns.

Because hMPV has existed globally for so long, many people already possess some degree of immunity. This widespread exposure contrasts sharply with novel viruses, like SARS-CoV-2, which caught populations off guard in 2019 due to a lack of preexisting immunity. Consequently, the likelihood of another pandemic driven by hMPV appears exceedingly low.

Still, public health experts recommend sensible precautions to reduce the risk of infection: wear a mask in crowded spaces, wash hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay up-to-date on relevant vaccines. In the UK, for instance, older adults and pregnant women are advised to receive the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, which helps prevent other serious respiratory infections.

Sources:
BBC 

New Scientist