A recent outbreak of human metapneumovirus, also known as HMPV, in northern China has sparked a sense of dread amongst many, including Americans who speculate another lockdown may be ahead. COVID-19 lasted around three years and left a lasting impact on many, and speculation of another outbreak is leaving many people with worries of what comes next.
What is HMPV?
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a virus that has symptoms similar to that of a cold or flu and has no vaccines or drugs available for it. The symptoms are mild, tend to clear up on their own, and are common around colder months. However, in some cases, symptoms can cause lower respiratory tract infections among children and older adults. Little to no information suggests that HMPV is unusual. According to Cleveland Clinic, “Young children, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk.” Cases of HMPV aren’t only limited to China and many people get the virus before turning five. However, any age group can contract the virus. HMPV spreads through direct contact between others or contact with surfaces that are contaminated.
The disease was first detected in the Netherlands in 2001 and is assumed to have evolved from a zoonotic virus infection (an infectious disease that is transmitted from animals to humans), from an unknown avian reservoir host species according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Still, it is important to remember that HMPV is not a notifiable disease, meaning that it is not a disease that requires healthcare providers to report to state or local level officials.
Cases in China
Cases of HMPV have seen an increase in reports since December of 2024, the uprise beginning in northern China. 2,768 cases have been reported in northern provinces, 2115 of those cases being virus-positive, and 4,883 positive cases overall in both northern and southern provinces have been reported overall as disclosed by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. From weeks 14-52, 604 outbreaks have been reported all over. However, it is not confirmed that HMPV is what is causing hospitalization. The Chinese CDC suggests that cases may actually be due to influenza A due to HMPV and flu viruses being indistinguishable from each other. The China Center for Disease Control and Prevention linked the World Health Organization (WHO) which held two short texts about two types of avian influenza, avian influenza A(H5N1) and avian influenza A(H7N9).
Even with this speculation of avian influenza, experts say that the outbreak in China is not a major concern.
“Influenza-like outbreak”
An Influenza-like outbreak is an outbreak that occurs within one week with ten or more influenza-like viruses following in the same area. This type of epidemic is verified and confirmed by the county. Influenza consists of four types which include A, B, C, and D. Influenza-A is the most common among the four and is suspected to be the culprit of the outbreak. From December 16th to 22nd, the World Health Organization reported zero human infections with influenza viruses of animal origin. However, from December 22nd to December 28th the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) reported 21 animal outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza according to the Chinese CDC.
Social media impact and misinformation
The increased anxiety of another pandemic and lockdown is not due to the outbreak alone. Social media tends to spread over-sensationalized news, platforms like TikTok especially creating false narratives, which can send people who tend not to fact-check into panic. Many videos warn viewers of another lockdown or a “second covid” based on little to no information on the topic, leaving plenty of people to assume the worst. According to the New York Times in India, “Social media posts from Kannadigas in China have come in the backdrop of HMPV infections, raising concerns in the states.” Once the news of the HMPV outbreak reached the US, many may have been reminded of COVID-19, driving them to believe that a second pandemic is very likely, and spreading the narrative that it is.
The Economic Times provides a personal report of the state of China as of now from Raju Kayak, who created a video. In the article, Nayak states, “I live in the northern part of China. The reason I’m showing this video is that there’s so much misinformation spreading about a supposed virus outbreak here–claims of overcrowded hospitals, panic, and chaos. But look around; life is completely normal.” Understanding that social media is not a reputable source of news or information can stop the spread of misinformation on serious subjects, which can have a heavy impact on viewers all over. Social media platforms like Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, and more are considered pseudo-news sources of information. Overall, there will be no lockdown following the outbreak of flu in China, and cases are expected to diminish around mid-to-late January of this year.
