HMPV symptoms and diagnosis test as surging cases spark concern online
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Five years on from the coronavirus pandemic's emergence in Wuhan, a respiratory virus is sparking worry across China. The human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, has seen a surge in cases throughout northern provinces this winter, with children under the age of 14 making up a significant number of patients.
Alarmingly similar to common cold or flu symptoms, HMPV can lead to severe complications, especially in vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems or with existing respiratory issues like asthma. It spreads via contact with respiratory droplets from infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.
Key symptoms include a cough, fever, nasal congestion and fatigue, with some also experiencing a rash, shortness of breath or a sore throat, according to the Cleveland Clinic. While not part of standard healthcare tests, swab and PCR tests can diagnose HMPV.
There is currently no vaccine or cure for HMPV, with treatment primarily focused on symptom management, which most people will be able to do at home. Symptoms of HMPV typically ease within three to six days, but severe cases can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, necessitating hospital stays. The New York Times reports that while the virus is "rarely fatal" in wealthier nations, it poses a greater threat in countries with weaker healthcare systems.
In China, hospitals are struggling under the surge, with images of masked citizens drawing parallels to the early days of Covid and raising alarms on social media. Yet, unlike Covid-19, HMPV isn't new; it's been known since 2001, when Dutch scientists identified it after children became sick, though it likely existed long before.
