What is HMPV, the respiratory virus surging in China?
Al JazeeraHMPV infections are spreading in China, while cases of flu-like disease have also been found in India and the UK. Cases of human metapneumovirus have also been reported from India amid seasonal winter patterns of a rise in respiratory illnesses. In northern China, HMPV cases have been rising among children 14 years and younger, according to Kan Biao, director of China’s Institute for Infectious Diseases. Additionally, within some people, the virus can lead to more severe respiratory complications, such as bronchitis, inflammation of the airways leading to the lungs, or pneumonia, infection of the lung tissue. These symptoms typically appear within three to six days after being infected, and often include: Cough Fever Nasal congestion Wheezing Breathlessness Sore throat Vulnerable groups may experience more severe and prolonged symptoms.