Cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection have increased in northern Chinese provinces in recent days, mainly among children. UK experts urge citizens to be on the lookout for symptoms.
Symptoms of HMPV, the ‘mysterious’ disease spreading in China Photo: Pexels
The Daily Mail revealed that the virus, which can prove fatal to the most vulnerable, is already in the UK and “on the rise”.
The latest data from the UK shows that this virus, responsible for crowded hospital waiting rooms in China, has seen a “marked growth” in recent weeks, slightly higher than the same period last year.
Cases of HMPV in the UK first appeared in 2001, with around four cases per week detected by PCR tests during the winter on average.
But experts have warned that a hidden increase may now be underway, as the virus can lurk in the body for days before causing telltale symptoms.
Doctors say these increases in cases “should not cause undue concern“.
HMPV usually causes symptoms similar to the common cold, including cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and fever that clears up after about five days.
But more severe symptoms such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia can occur in people who experience shortness of breath, severe coughing or wheezing.
HMPV can lead to severe cases in certain categories of people
Experts have urged Britons to watch out for flu-like symptoms amid fears it could actually be HMPV.
Professor John Tregoning, an expert in vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, says it has very similar symptoms – at least in children – to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Respiratory syncytial virus is transmitted through the respiratory tract through droplets expelled into the air by coughing or sneezing.
“It’s part of the cocktail of winter viruses we’re exposed to and, like other viruses, it will be spread through coughs, sneezes and droplets. Protect yourself, cover your mouth when you cough and wash your hands, all will help”, said Professor Tregoning.
Similar to advice related to Covid and RSV, those infected should “rest, stay hydrated and try not to spread it to others“, said the expert, who also added: “If you feel very sick, go to your family doctor. Since it is a virus, antibiotics will have no effect“.
Unlike Covid, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for HMPV yet, and treatment primarily involves managing symptoms.
Jaya Dantas, professor of international health at Curtin University in Australia, added: “We need to use a cautious and measured approach because we know a lot more since the Covid pandemic. We need to get tested, stay at home and away from others, wear a mask in public and protect the most vulnerable. In young children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised, HMPV can lead to severe cases and can move to the lower respiratory tract and lead to pneumonia“.
Other experts, however, warned that these increases in cases: “it is not something that should cause undue concern“.
Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: “HPMV has been known since 2001 and has been circulating in humans for at least 50 years – probably much longer. Unfortunately, it is associated with pneumonia, especially in young children, but this is fortunately rare.“
Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told the Daily Mail: “Almost every child will have at least one HMPV infection by the age of five, and we can expect to have several reinfections throughout life. It is one of the main viral causes of respiratory infections in children under five. In England we have seen quite a marked increase in recent weeks“.
However, he added: “One of the problems with these types of infections is that they’re being diagnosed more frequently, so it’s not always easy to know whether year-on-year increases are due to real increases or just because we’re diagnosing a higher proportion of infections.” .
Health officials in Beijing downplayed the developments as an annual winter event.
But the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that rates of flu-like illnesses are on the rise.
In its most recent report, in December, data suggested that 7.2 percent of outpatient visits to local hospitals in the northern provinces were due to a flu-like illness. Data for the southern part of the country suggested that 5.7% of outpatient visits were due to influenza-like illness. The situation was, however, below the levels of 2022 and 2023.
And Britain is currently battling its own wave of flu. Surveillance programs monitoring the outbreak in England suggest flu hospital admissions are four times what they were a month ago.
The figures show more than 4,500 beds were occupied by flu patients each day over the past week, up 3.5 times on the same week last year.
