Pneumonia of unknown origin similar to influenza in China: should we be concerned about the MPVh virus, the “human metapneumovirus” ?

A flu-like virus in China, HPVD, is causing concern five years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic (illustrative photo). vladimirzotov – ENVATO ELEMENTS

Several reports indicate a wave of infections in China with a flu-like virus, HPVD, is causing concern five years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Should we be concerned about HPVD ? Experts say the situation is not comparable to Covid-19. Here are the main elements known to date.

What the Chinese authorities say ?

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced at the end of the year that it would implement “active surveillance for pneumonia of unknown origin” as part of its overall prevention strategy.

“The positivity rate of HPV among children aged 14 and under has shown an upward trend,”, said official Kan Biao, responding to a question about “the intertwining of multiple infectious diseases” since the beginning of winter.

“The scale and intensity of the spread of respiratory infectious diseases remain below last year”, he said.

“There is no risk in traveling to China”, the Chinese Foreign Ministry added last Friday.

Similar to influenza

MPVh, which stands for“human metapneumovirus”, usually causes a mild infection of the upper respiratory tract.

It is spread through direct person-to-person contact or after touching a contaminated surface.

Common symptoms include a cough, fever or runny nose, symptoms very similar to many types of cold and flu.

Young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems may experience more severe symptoms.

Public health advice for hMPV is similar to that for influenza, says John Tregoning, professor of vaccine immunology at Imperial College London London.

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In case of infection, one must “rest, drink and avoid transmitting it to others”, specifies the specialist.

“Ventilate spaces well, cover your mouth when coughing, or wash your hands” limit the risks of infection, he adds.

Different from Covid-19

The coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 was unknown when it emerged in humans at the end of 2019.

The human population had never been exposed to it and was not immune, increasing the risk of complications.

A Conversely, hMPV has been circulating for decades, which implies a certain level of immunity.

The virus “is part of the cocktail of viruses to which we are exposed every winter”, reminds John Tregoning.

“Almost every child will have at least one hMPV infection before their fifth birthday”, says Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom.

And many people will be infected multiple times in their lives, he adds.

Normal levels

Images of masked patients flocking to hospital emergency departments have circulated widely on Chinese social media in recent weeks, although such scenes are not unusual in winter.

The reports have sparked concern around the world, with some pointing to China's alleged lack of transparency during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Several Chinese citizens who had warned about the severity of the pandemic had notably disappeared.

Last December, the World Health Organization (WHO) again asked China to share its data on the Covid-19 pandemic in order to better prepare for future health crises.

Beijing responded that it had shared its information “without any restrictions”. The WHO, however, sought to dispel fears around HPV.

“Reported levels of respiratory infections in China remain within a normal range”, that is, in line with what is “expected for a seasonal winter,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said Tuesday.