Five years after Covid-19, another respiratory virus is making headlines again in China, but should we really be worried?
Five years after the emergence of Covid-19, China is returning to the center of discussions. This time, the virus in question is not unknown. THE human metapneumovirus (HMPV), discovered in 2001, is making headlines again. This respiratory virus belongs to the same family as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), known to affect young children. Like the flu, it causes cough, fever and congestion. In most cases, it remains benign. Only vulnerable populations — young children, the elderly, or immunocompromised — are at higher risk. But then, why is a virus identified decades ago attracting such attention?
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Social networks are panicking
Images of patients in overloaded hospitals flood networks like X (formerly Twitter). These scenes recall the beginnings of Covid-19. Hence the worry of a new crisis. However, the Chinese authorities want to be reassuring. According to them, respiratory infections remain “under control”. Mao Ning, official spokesperson, even affirms that these waves are seasonal and less serious than in previous years. So where do these alarming images come from? Many media outlets have revealed that some date from 2022. Publications taken out of context amplify fear without any real basis.
And in France, should we be worried?
In France, HMPV is not new. The last peak took place at the beginning of 2024, without serious consequences. According to Professor Xavier-Marie Duval, infectious disease specialist at Bichat hospital, “there is no worrying outbreak”. The WHO and the French authorities have not issued any alerts. The watchword: vigilance, but not panic. Dr Gérald Kierzek repeats it: “We are monitoring, but we are not panicking. » To avoid unnecessary scares, it is better to obtain information from reliable sources.
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