HMPV is spreading in China but there's no need to worry
Respiratory illness is common in winter


Cases of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) are on the rise in China, causing global concern. The respiratory virus is not new, but much of the public was previously unaware of its existence. Experts say the disease is likely not going to be the next pandemic and the worry is a result of heightened wariness for respiratory illness in a post-Covid world.
What is HMPV?
HMPV is a respiratory virus that regularly circulates during cold and flu season. It is spread through coughing, sneezing and coming into contact with contaminated surfaces. It presents as common cold symptoms including cough, fever, shortness of breath and congestion. While not deadly, in some instances, cases can be more severe, especially in young children and the immunocompromised. They could "develop more severe disease where the lungs are affected, with wheezing, breathlessness and symptoms of croup," said the BBC. This could require hospitalization.
While China seems to have a spike in cases, its "reported levels of respiratory infections were along usual and expected rates, said a news briefing by the World Health Organization (WHO). The rise of HMPV is likely because "China underwent one of the world's most restrictive and prolonged lockdowns in response to Covid, reducing people's exposure to other viruses such as HMPV," said The Washington Post. "That created a situation where people became more susceptible during a surge," leading to "unusual cases even in young and middle-aged adults." The surge also aligns with low temperatures expected to last until March.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Should people be worried?
Experts aren't sounding the alarm just yet about HMPV. "It's not a new virus," Margaret Harris, a spokesperson for the WHO, said in the news briefing. "It was first identified in 2001. It's been in the human population for a long time. It is a common virus that circulates in winter and spring." The disease has been circulating similar to the flu, RSV and walking pneumonia. "How many times do you get sick in the winter and you have no idea what you've got?" said Jennifer Nuzzo, a professor of epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, to the Post. "It's a virus you'll get. You'll probably get it multiple times in your life."
HMPV is also not expected to be a global pandemic like Covid-19. The disease is well-studied and has been known for a long time. "There is broad population-level immunity to this virus globally; there was none, for Covid," said The New York Times. "A severe HMPV season can strain hospital capacity — particularly pediatric wards — but does not overwhelm medical centers." While there is no vaccine or antiviral for the disease, in most people it tends to pass on its own.
In general, "there's just this tendency post-Covid to treat every infectious disease anything as an emergency when it's not," Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said to the Post. However, while it is not expected to grow into a deadly pandemic, HMPV "should not be ignored," said virologist Connor Bamford in an opinion for The I Paper. "We must continue research into these viruses so we can better deploy interventions like vaccines, antivirals and preventative measures for known and unknown viruses in the future."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
August 31 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include FEMA's new scheme, Gavin Newsom's antics, and a clue in the Epstein files
-
Disarming Hezbollah: Lebanon's risky mission
Talking Point Iran-backed militia has brought 'nothing but war, division and misery', but rooting them out for good is a daunting and dangerous task
-
Woof! Britain's love affair with dogs
The Explainer The UK's canine population is booming. What does that mean for man's best friend?
-
Sloth fever shows no signs of slowing down
The explainer The vector-borne illness is expanding its range
-
A new subtype of diabetes was found and it may require different treatment
Under the radar It is prevalent in Black Africans and Americans
-
Texas declares end to measles outbreak
Speed Read The vaccine-preventable disease is still spreading in neighboring states, Mexico and Canada
-
How China is battling the chikungunya virus
Under The Radar Thousands of cases of the debilitating disease have been found in the country
-
RFK Jr. shuts down mRNA vaccine funding at agency
Speed Read The decision canceled or modified 22 projects, primarily for work on vaccines and therapeutics for respiratory viruses
-
Forever chemicals were found in reusable menstrual products. That is nothing new for women.
Under the Radar Toxic chemicals are all too common in such products
-
Babies born using 3 people's DNA lack hereditary disease
Under the Radar The method could eliminate mutations for future generations
-
Not just a number: how aging rates vary by country
The explainer Inequality is a key factor