Patients coughing, hospitals stormed… The images shared massively on the networks about a new Chinese virus have the air of “déjà vu”. 5 years almost to the day after the arrival of Covid-19, the country would experience a wave of human metapneumovirus (HMPV or VMPH), another respiratory virus. But should we really be worried?
A virus known for 24 years
First of all, what is human metapneumovirus? Under this somewhat impressive name, however, hides a phenomenon which is far from unknown:
“Human metapneumovirus (or HMPV) is a respiratory virus in the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough and nasal congestion. » says our medical director, Dr. Gérald Kierzek. But above all,It’s a well-known virus, discovered in 2001.”he specifies. It was almost 25 years ago.
In itself, this HMPV and its impact would therefore not be surprising during this winter period. And there would be nothing alarming. This is also the speech by Mao Nong, spokesperson for the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, on January 3 during a press conference. “Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the northern hemisphere. (…) But the diseases seem less serious and are spreading on a smaller scale compared to the previous year.»
“It is important to note that, unlike SARS-CoV-2, HMPV does not originate from the animal kingdom and a large proportion of the population already benefits from basic vaccination. » also reassures our doctor.
Alarmist and misleading videos?
However, the images shared of crowded hospitals at this stage may cause concern, especially for people who are losing confidence in the authorities. But according to several debunking media, these images mislead viewers. “These contents, on X, all date from the Christmas period, or even a few days before: the oldest post we found dates from December 15, 2024. However, they are not based on any tangible element. indicates in particular the TF1 site which analyzed the images. “Some even date… from 2022″, underlines our expert.
“Be careful not to overestimate the phenomenon five years after the Covid-19 episode, which fuels certain fears. » warns the emergency doctor.
Let us also remember that in China, contrary to the assertions of Internet users, the health authorities have not triggered a state of emergency. As for the World Health Organization, it has not published anything on these contaminations either. “So we monitor and don’t panic! concluded Dr. Kirzek.
