Social media videos are claiming that hospitals in China are overwhelmed by a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases. The posts also suggest that multiple viral outbreaks, including influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19, have caused overcrowding in hospitals and cemeteries.
The fear of a potential new pandemic, five years after Covid-19 upended global life, has triggered widespread alarm online. However, it is important to emphasize that no credible reports have confirmed these claims.
Chinese health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) have not confirmed the emergence of a new pandemic or issued any related warnings. Contrary to online speculation, the WHO has not declared any emergency or advised additional precautions.
One undated video appears to show the waiting room of a hospital full of patients. Many people were seen wearing masks in the video, others were seen coughing. The video was shared on X with a caption suggesting that it was filmed in China.
Another post that is going viral on X with 12 million views shows a number of elderly people in a hospital corridor. “Hospitals in China are overwhelmed as outbreaks of “influenza A” and “human metapneumovirus” resemble the COVID-19 surge from three years ago,” the post reads.
What is human metapneumovirus?
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a virus that usually causes symptoms similar to a cold. Young children, elderly people and those who are immunocompromised are at a higher risk.
This respiratory virus can cause symptoms similar to those of the common cold – such as cough, fever, and nasal congestion – as well as more severe respiratory issues like pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
Like Covid-19, HMPV is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be transmitted by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus.