HMPV: What you need to know about the virus spreading in China

Transcript

00:00Human metapneumovirus has been hitting the headlines

00:02as cases surge across China.

00:05This increase has sparked fears of another imminent pandemic.

00:08However, health experts have come out saying

00:10this is probably unlikely.

00:12So what is HMPV and how worried should we be?

00:15HMPV is a respiratory disease similar to flu

00:18and has mild symptoms for most people.

00:20These include a cough, fever and nasal congestion.

00:23But it can cause more serious complications

00:26like bronchitis and pneumonia in young children

00:28and people with weakened immune systems.

00:31Many countries in the Northern Hemisphere,

00:32including China, are seeing a rise in cases.

00:35Videos on social media have shown

00:37seemingly overwhelmed hospitals

00:39and have sparked fears of another global pandemic.

00:42However, health experts say the increased prevalence

00:45is likely normal for the seasonal increase

00:47usually seen in winter months.

00:49Data shows that these countries have been experiencing

00:51a spike in HMPV cases since October last year.

00:55In terms of how worried we should be,

00:57health authorities say that fears

00:58of a COVID-19-style pandemic are overblown.

01:01According to the experts, HMPV has been around for decades,

01:04so a lot of people have developed

01:06a level of immunity against it.

01:08Standard general precautions such as wearing a mask,

01:11washing hands and getting the flu vaccine

01:13are being recommended for those who might be at risk

01:15of contracting the disease.