China is dealing with an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), five years after the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports and social media posts suggest the virus is spreading rapidly, with some claiming hospitals and crematoriums are overwhelmed. Videos shared online show overcrowded hospitals, with some users saying multiple viruses are spreading, including influenza A, HMPV, mycoplasma pneumonia and COVID-19.
There are even claims that China has declared a state of emergency, although this has not been confirmed. HMPV is known to cause flu-like symptoms and may also have COVID-19-like symptoms. Health officials are closely monitoring the situation as the virus spreads.
An , overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums are particularly stressed by increasing cases of pneumonia and “white lung”.
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China ?? A state of emergency was declared in hospitals and crematoriums due to the pandemic.
Multiple viruses, including influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and COVID-19, are spreading rapidly across China. pic.twitter.com/GRV3XYgrYX
– SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) (@COVID19_disease) 1 January 2025
Meanwhile a news has come reuters China’s disease control authority said Friday it was conducting a surveillance system for pneumonia of unknown origin, amid fears cases of some respiratory diseases may increase during the winter. The move to set up a dedicated system is aimed at helping authorities set up protocols to deal with unknown pathogens, while preparedness levels were lower five years ago when the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, first emerged. , came forward.
The National Disease Control and Prevention Administration will establish a process for laboratories to report and verify and handle cases for disease control and prevention agencies, state broadcaster CCTV quoted an administration official as telling a news conference. According to an official statement released on Thursday, data on acute respiratory diseases shows that overall infections have increased in the week of December 16 to 22.
China is likely to be affected by various respiratory infectious diseases in winter and spring, Kan Biao, another official, said at a press conference. Without elaborating, he said the total number of cases this year would be less than last year.
Recently detected cases include pathogens such as rhinovirus and human metapneumovirus, with an increase in human metapneumovirus cases being seen in people under the age of 14, especially in the northern provinces.
In a recent interview with the state-backed National Business Daily, a respiratory specialist at a Shanghai hospital warned the public against indiscriminately using antiviral drugs to fight the human metapneumovirus, for which there is no vaccine but whose symptoms resemble those of a cold. Are similar to.
