The rise in cases of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in northern China is raising concerns among netizens, almost five years to the day after the first death from COVID-19 in the country. The experts consulted by 24 hours are nevertheless intended to be reassuring: the risk is low that the respiratory disease will be responsible for a new pandemic.
On January 6, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it had been informed by Chinese authorities that pneumonia of unknown origin was circulating in the Wuhan region. On January 11, the new virus, called Sars-CoV-2, claimed its first recorded victim.
Five years after the events, several Internet users report that the Chinese health situation is worrying as the country reports an increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) since the end of December.
The symptoms of this virus are similar to those of the flu and cold: cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever and wheezing.
“An epidemic of several viruses, including MPVh, mycoplasma pneumonia and COVID-19” would have even led to the establishment of a state of emergency to curb the circulation of infections, we can read on the social network x.
However, neither Beijing nor the WHO have taken such measures, reports TF1 Info.
Videos and photos of masked people in the hospital are nevertheless widely shared on social networks. But be careful: some of these images were captured in December 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, again according to the French media.
What is MPVh?
MPVh has as a “cousin” the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), specify the teams from the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ). It is also transmitted by respiratory droplets or by direct contact with secretions.
The disease can infect all age groups, but the majority of people contract it before the age of 5.
Reinfections are common, indicates the INSPQ.
In case of severe infection, MPVh can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia. Infants, young children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised are more vulnerable to these complications.
There is no vaccine or specific treatment for hMPV infection. Only the symptoms can be treated.
“MPVh is well known to health professionals,” assures doctor in epidemiology and public health, Kevin L’Espérance.
“It has been circulating in humans for a long time. It was discovered in 2001, but we have evidence that supports its presence as late as 1958,” emphasizes the new postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University in California.
“From a preventive point of view, the usual measures apply: washing your hands, covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze, staying at home with symptoms,” he says.
No worries among the experts
Two reasons can explain the “abnormal” and “possibly artificial” increase in MPVh in the East Asian country, according to Dr L’Espérance.
“The detection tools used in the clinic and in epidemiological surveillance to identify common viruses as well as the increased vigilance towards infectious diseases since the COVID-19 pandemic,” he mentions.
The epidemic also coincides with the arrival of the cold season, specifies the INSPQ, a period when other common viruses are more common.
“WHO observers in China report an increasing trend in acute respiratory viruses, but that the scale and intensity of these illnesses this year would be lower compared to the same period last year,” underlines the expert.
“In light of these data, I do not see any concern,” he argues.
The situation in Quebec
The virus is currently circulating in the province, confirms the INSPQ.
However, the situation is similar to that observed in clinics and hospitals before the COVID-19 pandemic and in the last two years.
Since the end of November, 3% to 5% of children and adults who present with an acute respiratory infection to sentinel clinics have tested positive for MPVh.
Between December 22, 2024 and January 4, 2025, the proportion of positivity in laboratories was even lower than that recorded for the same weeks in the last two years (2.5% to 3.5%).
