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Viral Disease HMPV Is On The Rise Among Kids In China — What Is It?
Editor's note: This is an emerging story and will be updated.
A viral infection called human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is on the rise among children in China, according to Chinese state media.
The virus can cause upper respiratory tract infections — like colds — as well as serious lung infections and, according to state media, it's now one of the top four most common viral infections among hospital visitors in China.
"HMPV has been recognised as a significant problem in the at-risk population across the world since the turn of the century when it was first discovered," Andrew Easton, a virology professor at the University of Warwick in the U.K. Who studies pneumoviruses, told Live Science in an email. "That risk has not changed significantly over the last almost 25 years."
That said, "it is always concerning to see a change in the incidence or pattern of an infection," Easton added. It's important to investigate potential surges in infection to pinpoint their cause.
What is HMPV?HMPV belongs to the same family of viruses as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a seasonal virus that also causes colds and lung infections. HMPV was discovered in 2001 and, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) epidemiologist Eileen Schneider, the virus is associated with approximately 20,000 hospitalizations among children under 5 in the U.S. Every year.
Common symptoms of the infection include cough, fever, a blocked nose and shortness of breath. However, these can progress to bronchitis (inflammation of the air tube leading to the lungs) or pneumonia (where the lungs' air sacs fill with fluid).
Young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable to severe symptoms, according to the CDC.
Related: Who should get the new RSV vaccines? Here's everything you need to know
Should other countries be worried about HMPV in China?"HMPV is a serious concern especially for very young infants in the first year of life," Easton said. This is also true of RSV, as well as seasonal influenza, or "the flu." However, he added that the risk posed by HMPV has not significantly changed since its discovery in the early 2000s.
In a statement released Dec. 27, Kan Biao, the head of the China CDC's National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, announced that the rate of HMPV among children ages 14 and under was on the rise in China, according to China Daily. This rise in cases was also reported by Reuters. However, the scale and cause of the uptick are still unclear.
"It is important to be able to detect changes in patterns of infection and to then identify what the potential causes are," Easton said. "[We must] assess whether it is a change in a behavior of the infected people that has led to increased exposure or whether it is a change in the virus that has led to increased numbers of infected individuals."
It's unlikely that mutations, or genetic changes, to the HMPV virus are the culprit behind the reported rise in infections, he said, but additional testing of the virus's genetic code is required to rule out this possibility.
Meanwhile, China Daily noted that the overall spread of respiratory infections in China this winter has been lower than in recent years.
Live Science has reached out to officials and scientists in China for comment on the situation but had not heard back at the time of publication.
How can we protect ourselves from HMPV?There are no available vaccines against HMPV. Additionally, according to the U.S. CDC, there are no specific antiviral treatments for the virus. Rather, treatment for HMPV is supportive, meaning it aims to reduce symptoms and keep vital signs stable.
According to the CDC, the infection duration is variable between individuals but similar to other respiratory infections, including the common cold.
To prevent HMPV infections, individuals can take the same precautionary measures they would for other respiratory viruses.
"HMPV is a respiratory infection spread in the same way as other respiratory viruses like flu and COVID-19," Easton said. "We can protect ourselves against HMPV in the same way that we do for those viruses."
The CDC recommends the following:
HMPV is among the viral illnesses that the U.S. CDC monitors continually, so any uptick in infection would become apparent very quickly.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
A Look At Human Metapneumovirus — A Respiratory Virus You've Likely Had Without Knowing
First discovered in the Netherlands roughly 24 years ago, HMPV belongs to the same viral family as RSV.
Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus that may not be on most folk's radars, but it's more common than you think — and chances are, you've already had it.
A recent "outbreak" in northern China has brought HMPV into the spotlight, raising questions about its significance.
Frank Esper, M.D., a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, provides his insights into this virus.
HMPV is similar to common respiratory illnesses such as colds, the flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Its symptoms include coughing, wheezing, a runny nose and a sore throat.
Although most cases are mild, certain groups — including young children, older adults and those with weak immune systems — face a higher risk of developing severe illness.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, children under five are especially vulnerable due to their developing immune systems.
First discovered in the Netherlands roughly 24 years ago, HMPV belongs to the same viral family as RSV.
Esper, who helped discover the virus during his fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital, noted that HMPV likely existed and infected humans for hundreds of years, however, the tools and technology to detect these viruses have only become available in the last few decades.
As "sister" viruses, HMPV and RSV share many characteristics.
Both cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections and can lead to conditions such as viral pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
In children, airway inflammation may result in wheezing and difficulty breathing. Adults with chronic lung conditions, such as asthma or COPD, are also at risk for complications.
Esper shared that while symptoms of the two viruses are similar, their seasonal occurrence differs. RSV typically surges in December and January, while HMPV is more common in March and April.
"They (HMPV and RSV) have a very sophisticated dance," Esper said. "So, it's not just temperature, but it also has to do with immune priming — about when the susceptibility is.
"There's a lot that goes to when the seasonality of a virus (is). Temperature is one of those parts, but there's actually more than that. They work together somehow, we haven't figured out how."
Accurate diagnosis requires molecular tests like PCR to detect the virus's genetic material.
As far as spreading, HMPV travels through large respiratory droplets.
Close contact with an infected person, touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face can lead to infection. The virus primarily affects the nasal passages but can spread to the lungs in severe cases, potentially causing pneumonia.
Preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, covering coughs and avoiding close contact with sick individuals are encouraged to limit its spread.
For mild cases, HMPV symptoms typically resolve within a few days to a week. More severe infections may take longer to improve and could leave lingering symptoms like a persistent cough.
There are no specific antibiotics to treat HMPV, so it's encouraged to let the body fight it off on its own.
For mild cases, getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids is usually enough. In more serious cases, people might need to go to the hospital for extra oxygen or help managing other health issues such as asthma or COPD.
Esper explained that the immune system is very important for getting better, and most people feel back to normal within three to five days.
"Your immune system, for the most part, is all you need," he said. "You just need the time to weather the storm, and that's what we do from a treatment standpoint. A lot of the time, you don't need any medical treatment."
The long-term effects of HMPV are still being studied, he mentioned.
While early-life RSV infections have been linked to asthma, there is currently no evidence of similar long-term complications from HMPV, Esper said. Most folks recover fully without lasting issues.
To reduce the risk of HMPV infection, it's encouraged to follow these hygiene practices:
Wear a mask during peak respiratory virus seasons, if needed.
When asked if other countries such as the U.S could experience an outbreak similar to that in China, Esper expressed that HMPV outbreaks happen annually worldwide, especially in the U.S., and are generally comparable in severity to other respiratory virus seasons.
He pointed out that, like other viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic, HMPV could potentially evolve into more aggressive forms. Scientists are continuing to study and monitor the virus to understand these risks better.
"We certainly have seen, over the previous years, that sometimes when viruses resurge after the pandemic, they have been a little more aggressive," he said. "Maybe because we didn't see them for a whole year, and our immune systems weren't trying to see the response."
Although HMPV isn't as widely known as RSV or the flu, it's still a significant respiratory virus. Being aware of its symptoms, understanding who is most at risk and taking preventive measures can help people stay healthy and protect those around them.
Esper stressed that maintaining good hygiene practices through regular handwashing, covering coughs and masking when necessary are the best defense against respiratory viruses like HMPV.
Respiratory Infections On The Rise – Experts Expect A Decline By Mid-February
Respiratory infections are experiencing a significant surge in recent days. Citizens are plagued by fever, fatigue, sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, and hospital emergency rooms are filling with individuals exhibiting severe symptoms seeking medical care. The "star" of the wave of infections is flu type A, followed by rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and coronavirus. Meanwhile, metapneumovirus (hMPV), which recently gained broader attention, appears to remain at levels typical for the season but continues to cause severe illness in certain cases.
"We are witnessing a sharp increase in viral infections, primarily affecting the upper respiratory tract. As predicted, following the Christmas and New Year's celebrations, we expected this spike due to both the heavy gatherings during the holidays and because this is the peak period for these infections," Professor of Pulmonology at the University of Crete, Nikos Tzanakis, told protothema.Gr.
Type A flu dominates, with symptoms including fever – often high – joint pain, muscle aches, and cough. It also causes a sore throat and gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Mr. Tzanakis highlights that vaccination rates remain relatively low, even though the flu vaccine protects against severe illness, despite its effectiveness rate being below 50%, as experts explain.
The positivity rate of samples collected through the hospital surveillance network showed a significant increase during the first week of the new year compared to the previous week, according to data released by the National Public Health Organization (EODY). Specifically, during the first week of 2025, there were seven new severe cases requiring ICU admission and one death due to laboratory-confirmed flu. Overall, since the start of this season's flu surveillance (October) up to January 5, 2025, there have been 31 laboratory-confirmed cases with ICU hospitalization and four deaths. Furthermore, between the first week of 2024 and the first week of 2025, there have been 65 recorded flu deaths.
As for flu circulation and the dominant strains in Greece, data from both Primary Health Care and hospital surveillance provide insight. More specifically, according to EODY data, between October and January 5, 2025, among 1,495 samples tested, 116 (8%) were positive for flu viruses. Of these, 112 were subtyped, with 106 belonging to type A and six to type B. Of the 101 type A strains further subtyped, 33 (33%) belonged to the A(H3) subtype and 68 (67%) to the A(H1)pdm09 subtype.
Rhinoviruses, RSV, Coronavirus, and MetapneumovirusThe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe clinical manifestations and complications, particularly affecting children under one year of age and the elderly. Doctors report seeing numerous RSV cases in hospitals, as this is the peak season for the virus. Notably, this year marks the availability of an RSV vaccine specifically for the elderly, recommended by the National Vaccination Committee for all individuals aged 75 and above, as well as those aged 65 and older with chronic illnesses.
Coronavirus remains "present," with peaks and lulls. Over recent weeks, during the rise in respiratory infections, both Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions have increased. According to reports, as of Monday, January 13, there were 632 hospitalized coronavirus patients in the country, in regular wards, ICUs, and high-dependency units. Additionally, positivity rates in the community have risen, with more self-tests returning positive results.
However, data on antiviral prescriptions suggest that coronavirus is not the main cause of this winter's spike in viral infections. Currently, 500 antiviral packages are being dispensed daily to Covid-19-positive patients at risk of severe illness, compared to 1,500-2,000 packages daily during the same period last year.
In addition to the aforementioned well-known pathogens, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and various viruses causing flu-like syndromes are affecting a significant portion of the population. Regarding metapneumovirus, cases do not appear to be higher than in previous years – the virus was first discovered in 2001, according to Mr. Tzanakis. However, 5%-7.5% of flu-like syndrome cases in children under five years old are caused by hMPV, as well as 10% of chronic lung disease exacerbations in adults. Additionally, metapneumovirus can cause severe symptoms similar to those of the flu.
Epidemic Wave Expected to Decline by Mid-February"The wave of infections will persist throughout January, but we hope it will subside around mid-February," says Mr. Tzanakis. As a result of the epidemic, hospital emergency rooms are experiencing increased visits, and hospital admissions are rising.
According to the president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Workers (POEDIN), Michalis Giannakos, after Christmas, major hospitals in Athens, Thessaloniki, and regional areas are "overrun" with medical cases. "More patients are coming in with flu and other respiratory infections compared to the same period last year. However, significantly fewer Covid-19 patients are seeking care compared to last year," Mr. Giannakos notes, adding, "Emergency departments in on-call hospitals already resemble war zones […] The waiting time for an examination now exceeds 8 hours."
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