By Abiola Olawale
China is currently experiencing an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus that leads to flu-like symptoms including cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
According to reports, there has been a noticeable increase in cases, particularly among children under the age of 14 in northern provinces of China.
Hospitals in China are said to be experiencing a rise in patients with symptoms of the virus as health authorities in the country are implementing emergency measures to contain the virus.
The Chinese health authorities have reportedly set up a system to track cases of pneumonia of unknown origin to prevent a scenario similar to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
HMPV, first discovered in 2001, does not have a specific vaccine or antiviral treatment.
The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact, similar to how other respiratory viruses like influenza and RSV spread, putting young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems at higher risk for severe outcomes.
This comes barely five years after the world saw the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus which reportedly killed nearly seven million people globally.
