China is confronting an outbreak of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) five years after the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports and social media posts indicate that the virus is spreading rapidly, with claims of overwhelmed hospitals and crematories. Videos circulating online show crowded medical facilities, with users asserting that multiple viruses—including influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and COVID—19—are in circulation.
Unverified reports suggest that China has declared a state of emergency, though no official confirmation has been issued. HMPV, known to cause flu-like symptoms, can mimic Covid-19 in its presentation. Health authorities are actively monitoring the situation as the virus continues to spread.
A social media post by an X handle, ‘SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19),’ stated: “China is facing a surge in multiple viruses, including Influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Covid-19, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums. Children’s hospitals are particularly strained by rising pneumonia and ‘white lung’ cases.”
In response to the surge in cases, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration announced plans to establish a standard procedure for laboratories to report cases and for disease control agencies to verify and manage them. According to state broadcaster CCTV, the administration highlighted an upward trend in acute respiratory infections between December 16 and 22.
Kan Biao, an official at the administration, stated that China is likely to see various respiratory infectious diseases during winter and spring. However, he noted that the overall number of cases this year is expected to be lower than last year.
Recent infections have included pathogens such as rhinovirus and human metapneumovirus, with HMPV cases among individuals under 14 years old rising, particularly in northern provinces.
In an interview with the state-backed National Business Daily, a respiratory expert from a Shanghai hospital cautioned against the indiscriminate use of antiviral drugs to treat HMPV, which has no vaccine and presents symptoms resembling those of the common cold.
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