As China experiences a rise in respiratory infections this winter, one little-known virus has gotten a lot of attention – and some people may worry whether the rise in cases could be felt more broadly around the world.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently monitoring reports of a spike in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, as the US sees an increase in such cases.

Cases of HMPV have doubled in the UK since early December with many Brits having been struck down in the country with symptoms similar to those of the common cold

While cases are climbing in China, the situation is very different from what it was when Covid-19 emerged five years ago, medical experts say. HMPV has circulated in humans for decades.

As respiratory diseases enter a peak period in winter, multiple foreign media outlets have been exaggerating reports of a surge in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, claiming that it has overwhelmed local hospitals.

A viral outbreak in China is raising concerns reminiscent of 2019, but this time the focus is on human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a common respiratory virus. Western experts stress transparency, with US cases rising to nearly 300 in late December and the UK seeing 4.

The World Health Organization has said that the metapneumovirus (hMPV) that caused the outbreak in China is not a new virus, as it was discovered more than 20 years ago. This virus with an updated name circulates in the winter and spring,

Symptoms of HMPV are similar to that of the cold and flu, they can include: More serious symptoms which require medical attention can include wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, severe fatigue, dehydration, or a fever that does not improve.

Experts say the disease is likely not going to be the next pandemic and the worry is a result of heightened wariness for respiratory illness in a post-Covid world. HMPV is a respiratory virus that regularly circulates during cold and flu season.

HMPV has many of the same symptoms of mild, common winter woes like cold and flu, but it can lead to much more severe complications, particularly in vulnerable groups like infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

A virus that's not well known to the public is spiking in China. CDC officials said HMPV is not a cause for concern here, nor is it a new virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring reports of a spike in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. HMPV, which was discovered in 2001, is common but underdiagnosed due to its similarities to the common cold, according to the CDC.