A surge in respiratory infections casued by the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, five years after the COVID-19 outbreak, has caused several countries in the region to issue public health updates amid rising concerns on social media.
HMPV is a virus that can cause upper and lower respiratory disease in people of all ages, but particularly among young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. The virus can be spread from person to person by close personal contact like touching and handshaking, or by touching surfaces that have viruses on them. The common symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath.
Following growing concern on social media, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday that respiratory infections "tend to peak during winter season" and that it is "safe to travel to China." India's Director-General of Health Services Atul Goel also said "there is nothing to be alarmed about the present situation."
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— SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) (@COVID19_disease) January 1, 2025
China 🇨🇳 Declares State of Emergency as Epidemic Overwhelms Hospitals and Crematoriums.
Multiple viruses, including Influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and COVID-19, are spreading rapidly across China. pic.twitter.com/GRV3XYgrYX
