Is little-known hMPV virus the NEW Covid? As bug ravages China and UK faces ‘medium’ threat, we reveal all

SCENES of crowded hospitals in China have stoked fears of the next Covid, with cases of a little-known winter virus reported to be surging.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is the latest bug to bring memories of lockdown flooding back as news of it spreads online.

Authorities in Beijing only added to suspicion by insisting everything was fine – as the World Health Organisation just last week re-issued requests for data about how Covid began five years ago.

But the WHO and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have now stepped in to calm fears of a new outbreak by confirming the Chinese government’s claims that nothing unusual is happening.

Here, we answer everything you need to know about hMPV:

What is hMPV?

Many Brits will now be hearing of human metapneumovirus for the first time – but have almost certainly had it already.

It is a decades-old cold virus that generally causes a cough, runny nose, fever, tiredness and muscle aches.

There is no treatment or vaccine for the virus and almost all cases recover with bed rest, while more serious cases may need treatment for additional infections like pneumonia.

The fact that it is so common and has been around for so long – it was officially identified in 2001 – means most people already have immunity.

Dr Conall Watson, of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Most people have had hMPV by the time they are five years old and catch it again throughout their lives.”

Why are people worried now?

Authorities have also reported outbreaks in Kazakhstan, India and Malaysia.

One concern is the possibility that the bug has mutated.

Changes to a virus’ genetics can make it more deadly or mean it spreads faster, as seen with the Alpha, Delta and Omicron Covid variants.

Some experts have called for genetic testing to make sure a mutated and more dangerous version is not doing the rounds in China.

Is it really ‘overwhelming’ hospitals?

The World Health Organisation this week confirmed claims by the Chinese government that nothing out of the ordinary is happening.

WHO officers said on Tuesday: “Based on data published by China up to 29 December, acute respiratory infections have increased during recent weeks and detections of seasonal influenza, rhinovirus, RSV, and hMPV have also increased. 

You would be surprised how little we still know about common cold viruses

Professor Martin MichaelisUniversity of Kent

“The increase is within the range expected for this time of year.”

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and control said on Wednesday: “The ECDC considers that the current epidemiological situation in China reflects a seasonal rise in respiratory infections caused by common respiratory pathogens and does not pose any specific concern for the EU/EEA.”

Is hMPV in the UK?

Yes – and we have likely had it for decades.

UK data suggests about five per cent of people tested for respiratory viruses in the last week of December were positive for hMPV, compared to 2.5 per cent at the start of the month. 

The UK Health Security Agency considers this to be a “medium” level of infection and said it was “increasing slightly”.

Meanwhile the positivity rate for flu is around 30 per cent.

Dr Conall Watson, epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “hMPV is a common respiratory infection in winter and we typically see activity reaching a peak at this time of year. 

“Infections are usually mild, causing symptoms of a common cold. 

“Our surveillance systems indicate that levels are in line with what we would expect to see. 

“There are many viruses in circulation at the moment.”

What are the symptoms and who is at risk?

For most people, hMPV is mild and disappears within a week or so.

It causes the common cold, with symptoms like a runny nose, coughing, fever, aches and tiredness.

Elderly people, small children and those with weak immune systems are at greatest risk of more serious complications, which could include pneumonia or further infection in the airways.

Could it cause a new pandemic?

Experts say this is highly unlikely.

Typical illness caused by the virus is not serious enough to cause concern and most people already have immunity.

Covid was so devastating because it was a completely new virus that our bodies had not encountered before and did not know how to fight off.

hMPV would likely have to mutate significantly to cause a crisis, but it is relatively slower to mutate than flu and Covid, with less drastic changes, and there is no evidence it has evolved to become any more dangerous.

It does not appear on the WHO’s list of viruses with pandemic potential, which includes Covid, Ebola, SARS and Zika.

Are the concerns overblown?

Professor Martin Michaelis, of the University of Kent, said: “Even before Covid-19, large outbreaks put hospitals under pressure in the winter but we did not care about the viruses that caused them.  

“Today, there is more interest in the causes of respiratory diseases, and this year there is a relatively high number of hMPV cases.  

“You would be surprised how little we still know about common cold viruses in general.

“It is extremely unlikely that hMPV will cause another pandemic as it has been around for decades and there are high levels of immunity in the population.”