Outbreak of disease similar in symptoms to COVID-19 detected in China. Most of patients - children under 14

An outbreak of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has been recorded in China. It causes a respiratory disease in people, the symptoms of which are similar to the COVID-19 coronavirus infection and the flu. The spread of the disease began earlier this month and has already put pressure on the country's medical system.

This is according to reports from the Chinese authorities and media, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

The China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) reported that an increase in the incidence of metapneumovirus was recorded among children aged 14 and younger.

The report, published by the agency on January 2, states that the most pronounced trend towards an increase in the number of cases of metapneumovirus infection was recorded in the northern regions of the country.

In addition, an increase in the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was recorded. It is also actively spreading among children in northern China.

As The Independent reported, photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China began to appear on social networks the day before.

The China CDC has issued recommendations for medical workers and the public, and health authorities are taking emergency measures to monitor and combat the spread of the disease.

At the same time, official Beijing has "downplayed the significance of these events", calling the increase in the incidence of metapneumovirus an allegedly normal seasonal phenomenon for the country.

Last Friday, January 3, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, Mao Ning, stated that, compared with the previous year, the diseases appear less serious and are spreading on a smaller scale.

The Money UDN publication (Taiwan) wrote at the end of December 2024 that, according to information from doctors from the mainland, the mortality rate from metapneumovirus allegedly reaches 43%.

What is metapneumovirus (hMPV)

Human metapneumovirus is a virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. It causes respiratory diseases in children and people with weakened immune systems.

Metapneumovirus has symptoms similar to the flu and COVID-19 coronavirus infection. The most common are: cough, runny nose, headache, shortness of breath and fever.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in the summer of 2024, the number of cases of COVID-19 coronavirus infection in Ukraine increased almost 12 times.

We also wrote that in August 2024, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine announced that a new wave of COVID-19 cases was spreading in the country.