China is experiencing a surge in respiratory infections, including human metapneumovirus (HMPV), during the winter season. While the World Health Organization (WHO) states that the increase is within normal expectations for this time of year, concerns have been raised. The WHO emphasizes that hospital utilization in China remains lower than the previous year and no emergency declarations or responses have been issued related to these infections.
Human metapneumovirus ( HMPV ) can cause upper and lower respiratory disease in people of all ages. Data from the Chinese Centres for Disease Control and Prevention released last week shows that the country has seen more cases in recent weeks. But HMPV typically circulates in the Northern Hemisphere in winter, and China 's CDC data shows that there have also been rises in a number of other common respiratory infections, including the seasonal flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
'China's reported levels of respiratory infections are within the normal range. It's what we would expect to see for the winter season,' Margaret Harris, a spokesperson for the World Health Organisation, said in a news briefing on Tuesday. To calm concerns, she added that hospital utilisation in China is lower than at this time last year and that there have been no emergency declarations or emergency responses launched in the country in connection with these respiratory infections.'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.' In the United States, the CDC tracks cases of HMPV in the same way it tracks the spread of other respiratory viruses. It's estimated that about 10 per cent to 12 per cent of respiratory illnesses in children are caused by HMPV; most people will get HMPV at some point before age 5, and then reinfections can occur throughout life.The World Health Organisation said the spike in cases is to be expected. Data shows that HMPV cases started to show up more frequently in November and have been rising since. But, compared with other common viruses, the weekly percent of respiratory infections testing positive for HMPV has been low, at 1.94 per cent as of December 28. In comparison, flu was at 18.71 per cent and Covid-19 at 7.10 per cent that week
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