HMPV: What is the virus overwhelming Chinese hospitals and should we be worried in the UK?

There has been a rise in the number of cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. Credit: Getty Images

In recent days videos and photographs have been posted on Chinese social media purporting to show overwhelmed hospitals and emergency departments.

It's been reported the surge in demand for hospital care is down to a rise in the cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) - a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms.

But a lack of data being released by China has caused concern from other nations, with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US stating it is "monitoring reports" of an increase in cases.

Beijing has pushed back against the concerns, explaining that "respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season".

Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, added that the cases "appear to be less severe and spread on a smaller scale compared with the previous year".

ITV News explains what HMPV is and how many cases there are in the UK.

Videos on social media show hospitals in China overwhelmed with patients

What is HMPV?

HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms.

It is a seasonal virus with most cases occurring in winter and is closely related to RSV - one of the common viruses that causes colds, according to the UKSHA website.

What are the symptoms?

For most people, HMPV is a mild infection and symptoms are similar to those experienced in a common cold.

Symptoms can include:

  • Runny nose

  • Cough

  • Temperature

  • Sore throat

  • Wheezing

However, it can develop into bronchitis and pneumonia in more severe cases, particularly in babies, younger children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems or underlying conditions.

How many cases of HMPV does the UK have?

The number of HMPV cases in the UK increased in the final week of December, UKSHA figures show.

Those testing positive rose to 4.5% among all reported tests between December 23 and December 29, with the highest number of cases in those under five.

However, the number of HMPV cases is considered low at the moment, particularly compared to other respiratory viruses like influenza.

Professor John Tregoning, Vaccine Immunology at Imperial College London, said that the number of cases "looks very similar" to the same time period in 2023.

For example, influenza was the main cause of infection across the same period, with the number of people testing positive for influenza increasing to 26.4% among all reported tests, compared to 21.7% the week before.

Should people in the UK be worried about HMPV?

There are fears circulating online that the rise of HMPV in China could turn into another global pandemic.

However, experts have said that people in the UK do not need to worry.

Prof Tregoning explained that, unlike Covid, HMPV is not a new virus.

HMPV was first discovered by Dutch scientists in 2001, but Prof Tregoning said it had "almost certainly been circulating" before then.

He added this has created a "population immune memory" with HMPV.

In contrast, Covid was a novel virus, and therefore there was no "immune protection", as the symptoms are likely to be more severe the first time people are exposed to a virus, Prof Tregoning explained.

Almost every child has been infected with HMPV by the time they are five, according to the Public Health Scotland website.

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What can people do to lower the risk of contracting HMPV?

Prof Tregoning explained that, like with all winter viruses, the advice of hands, face, and space is important.

He urged the public to meet with other people in ventilated spaces, regularly wash their hands and sneeze into the crook of their arm.

"If you have a symptomatic viral infection, consider not seeing people who are more vulnerable," he said.

Prof Tregoning also encouraged people to get vaccinated against influenza and Covid to help "reduce the burden of disease".

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