HMPV virus - latest: China to share infection data as India steps up surveillance, doctors say

Will there be a quarantine in India? The first cases of the new virus were reported after the capture of HMPV in China Top updates

A disease expert has asked China to share infection data amid an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) that has spread to four countries.

Infectious disease expert Dr Sanjaya Senanayak, an assistant professor of medicine at the Australian National University, said it was “vital” for China to share information in a timely manner.

The virus, which causes flu or cold symptoms, has seen an increase in cases in northern China’s provinces this winter, especially among children.

Photos and videos of people wearing masks in Chinese hospitals surfaced on social media platforms, with local reports comparing the scenes to the initial outbreak of Covid.

India has also increased surveillance of HMPV cases following its outbreak in the country, as well as in Malaysia and Kazakhstan.

India’s health minister, JP Nadda, said the “occurrence of HMPV in India is not new” and that there was “no cause for concern” despite the increased testing.

US surveillance of HMPV cases

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly “monitoring” reports of increased human metapneumovirus cases in northern Chinese provinces.

“CDC is aware of the reported increase in HMPV in China and is in regular contact with international partners and monitoring reports of increased disease,” a CDC spokesperson said.

“These reports are not a cause for concern in the United States at this time,” the spokesman added.

Alexander ButlerJanuary 7, 2025 14:06

What is HMPV? China tightens surveillance amid new virus outbreak

Alexander ButlerJanuary 7, 2025 14:04

There is no global health emergency

The World Health Organization has not classified the increase in HMPV infections as a global health emergency, but the UN agency continues to closely monitor the situation.

Professor Jill Carr, a virologist at Flinders University, says the HMPV outbreak is very different from Covid, “where the virus was completely new to humans and arose from animal spillovers.”

“HMPV can certainly make people very sick, but the current situation in China with high HMPV cases is very different from the early threats of SARS-CoV-2,” he notes.

Stuti MishraJanuary 7, 2025 12:01

Current situation in China

China’s National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention has recently confirmed an increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV.

In response, it has launched a pilot program to track pneumonia of unknown origin with the aim of improving the identification and management of such cases.

This requires greater coordination between laboratories and health agencies and ensuring timely reporting of new cases.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said Friday that the disease is spreading “on a smaller scale than last year.”

This reflects seasonal trends seen in other countries, including the UK, which is experiencing a similar rise in respiratory illnesses this winter.

Patients wait in a hospital's pediatric and emergency department amid a rise in respiratory illnesses in China. — Patients wait in a hospital’s pediatric and emergency department amid a rise in respiratory illnesses in China. (VCG/Getty)

Alexander ButlerJanuary 7, 2025 11:45

Image: People waiting to be seen for HMPV in China

Pictured: Masked children wait for a visit at a hospital in Hangzhou amid a surge in HMPV cases. (AFP via Getty Images)

A family member maintains an IV drip for the child amid increased HMPV (AFP via Getty Images)

Alexander ButlerJanuary 7, 2025 11:30

What is HMPV?

Human metapneumovirus, first identified by Dutch scientists in 2001, is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most people. However, it can cause severe illness in infants, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions.

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, described HMPV as one of many viruses contributing to winter’s pressure on healthcare systems.

It causes respiratory illness in infants and the elderly, which can lead to hospitalization. For most other age groups, it simply causes cold-like symptoms.

Alexander ButlerJanuary 7, 2025 11:15

What is HMPV? China tightens surveillance amid new virus outbreak

Alexander ButlerJanuary 7, 2025 10:59

US surveillance of HMPV cases

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly “monitoring” reports of increased human metapneumovirus cases in northern Chinese provinces.

“CDC is aware of the reported increase in HMPV in China and is in regular contact with international partners and monitoring reports of increased disease,” a CDC spokesperson said.

“These reports are not a cause for concern in the United States at this time,” the spokesman added.

Alexander ButlerJanuary 7, 2025 10:08