Respiratory virus in China: “The vast majority of the population has already been exposed” in Quebec, says a doctor

The human metapneumovirus, also nicknamed mPVh, has been causing concern on social networks for several days. However, a microbiologist wishes to reassure the population about the danger of this virus, since the majority have already been exposed to it.

mPVh is a virus that causes infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, described the Ottawa Hospital.

This disease is worrying more and more Internet users on social networks, due to images circulating suggesting that hospitals are overloaded in China. However, fact-checking experts have confirmed that these images are from 2022, during the time of COVID-19.

In reality, mPVh is a less dangerous virus.

“To reassure everyone, this pandemic potential for metapneumovirus is low, even very low,” said Dr.^r Karl Weiss, infectious disease microbiologist at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

In an interview with LCN on Tuesday, the expert explained that this virus is not new: it was discovered in the early 2000s. “It is a virus that we know in Quebec, we have also […] found this virus in populations of patients with chronic diseases,” he added.

The latter even believes that most Quebecers have already been exposed to the virus, especially if they catch a cold.

“It’s still a virus that can be quite common and quite benign,” he stressed. So, yes, the vast majority of the population has already been exposed to this type of virus.

What is mPVh?

The symptoms of the virus are very similar to those of a cold, ranging from cough to fever.

Children, the elderly, and people with autoimmune diseases, such as lung cancer, may face more severe complications from this virus. Fortunately, it is not fatal for “the vast majority of the population”, according to the D^r Weiss.

Currently, it affects a small portion of Quebecers. Influenza is much more widespread throughout the population, in addition to having more severe symptoms.

“Influenza is really the biggest problem,” he said.

According to laboratory data on trends in respiratory viruses in Canada, mPVh is the penultimate virus with the highest percentage of positive tests (1.3%) during the last week of 2024, ahead of influenza B (0 .5%). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza are the most common across the country, with rates of 11.7% and 9.9%, respectively.

Data collection occurred in the last week of 2024.

To watch the full interview, click on the video above.