Wang Liping, left, researcher for the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention speaks during a press briefing by the National Health Commission as concerns surfaced in recent days over a surge in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in northern China after images circulated online of hospitals overrun with masked patients, in Beijing, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
DAILY MAIL ONLINE | Published January 12, 2025
BEIJING (AP) – The rate of infections with the flu-like human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in northern China is declining, a health official said Sunday, amid some international concern over a potential pandemic.
HMPV, which belongs to the same family as the respiratory syncytial virus, causes flu or cold-like symptoms including fever, cough and nasal congestion. The symptoms often clear up by themselves, though they can cause lower respiratory tract infections among children, older adults and those immunocompromised.
“The human metapneumovirus is not a new virus, and has been with humans for at least several decades,” said Wang Liping, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, during a press briefing by China´s National Health Commission.
Wang added that the increase in recent years in the number of cases of the virus, first detected in the Netherlands in 2001, is due to better detection methods.
“At present, the rate of positive cases in human metapneumovirus detection is fluctuating, and the rate of positive cases in northern provinces is declining, and the rate of positive cases among patients aged 14 and below has started to decline,” she said.
Concerns surfaced in recent days over a surge in HMPV infections in northern China after images circulated online of hospitals overrun with masked patients. The World Health Organization said it has not received reports of unusual outbreaks in China or elsewhere.
Experts say HMPV is unlike COVID-19 in that it has been around for decades and there is some built-in immunity to it. Most children are infected with the virus by the age of 5.
Wang said respiratory diseases currently affecting people in China are caused by known pathogens, and no new infectious diseases have emerged.
The number of patients in fever clinics and emergency departments across the country has been rising but is still generally lower compared to the same period last year, said Gao Xinqiang, deputy director of the Department of Medical Emergency Response of the health commission.
“There is no obvious shortage of medical resources,” Gao said.
Flu infections across the country are expected to gradually decline in mid-to-late January, said commission spokesperson Hu Qiangqiang.
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SOURCE: www.dailymail.co.uk
RELATED: Calling common virus ‘unknown’ essentially fear-mongering: FM responds to attention on increase in cases of HMPV in China
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry
GLOBAL TIMES | Published January 12, 2025
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday that the overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China are lower than last year, and human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has circulated in humans for at least 60 years, is not a new virus, and calling this common virus “unknown” is inconsistent with basic science and essentially fear-mongering.
Guo made the remarks at a regular press conference on Friday in response to a question about attention on the increase in cases of HMPV in China, with claims of “unknown virus in China” on the internet.
“We’ve recently answered several relevant questions. Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere and influenza viruses are common pathogens. The overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China are lower than last year,” Guo said.
Regarding the HMPV, the spokesperson said that as we have learned from the competent authorities, it is not a new virus. HMPV has circulated in humans for at least 60 years and is a common virus that causes upper respiratory infections, and HMPV infections are self-limited. Calling this common virus “unknown” is inconsistent with basic science and essentially fear-mongering, Guo said.
The Chinese government takes seriously the health of its own people and foreign nationals living in China. China’s competent authorities and technical agencies took proactive steps to carry out sentinel surveillance for various acute respiratory infectious diseases and released surveillance results. Chinese disease control experts have told the public on multiple occasions how to take science-based protective steps. Also, China and WHO stay in close and regular touch and share timely information on respiratory diseases, the spokesperson said.
“We will continue to do what’s necessary and do our best to make sure it is comfortable, safe and convenient for domestic and foreign travelers in China. It is also important for everyone to make a common effort for personal and family health,” Guo noted.
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SOURCE: www.globaltimes.cn
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