Mystery Illness Identified As Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) Overwhelms Hospitals In China

Hospitals in China are facing a surge in cases linked to a mysterious viral outbreak, prompting many to resume wearing face masks.

Reports suggest the outbreak is caused by human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a relatively unknown virus that usually leads to mild symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and wheezing.

However, in severe cases, particularly among children, it can result in bronchitis or pneumonia.

The virus spreads easily through respiratory droplets and close contact, making crowded areas a hotspot for transmission.

This situation bears resemblance to the winter of 2022/23, when a wave of mycoplasma pneumonia—nicknamed “white lung”—swept through China.

That outbreak was attributed to weakened immunity in children due to prolonged COVID lockdowns and school closures.

However, official data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the current surge may largely be driven by regular influenza.

Recent tests show that 30% of cases involve the flu, and one in seven hospitalized patients with severe respiratory symptoms has tested positive for it.

The CDC also reports an increase in flu-like illnesses across the country.

In northern provinces, 7.2% of outpatient visits during the last week of December were linked to such illnesses—12% higher than the previous week and above the average for the same period in past years.

In the southern provinces, 5.7% of outpatient visits were due to flu-like symptoms, a 21% rise from the previous week, though still below the 2022 and 2023 levels.

A local farmer in Hunan province, identified as Mr. Peng, described the severity of the outbreak, stating that many in his area had fallen ill.

He claimed that several deaths had occurred recently, involving people in their 40s through 80s.

A funeral director, identified as Ms. Wang, reportedly highlighted the strain on crematoriums, saying there were long queues for cremations.

She added that all available furnaces were in use, emitting heavy smoke, describing the scene as chaotic and overwhelming.

“A lot of people have caught colds, and most of them have [illness],’ he said in quotes translated to English.

“About seven or eight people died this week in this area. Some were in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 40s.

“There are long lines for cremation now,’ she said in translated quotes. ‘Today, three VIP furnaces were opened.

“They were all burning and emitting a lot of smoke. It was terrible. If you don’t know about the crematorium, you would think it is selling New Year goods, just like holding a trade fair during the Chinese New Year.”

This comes four years after China won its fight against the coronavirus pandemic which broke out in 2019.