HMPV: What you need to know about the virus spreading in China
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00:00Human metapneumovirus has been hitting the headlines
00:02as cases surge across China.
00:05This increase has sparked fears of another imminent pandemic.
00:08However, health experts have come out saying
00:10this is probably unlikely.
00:12So what is HMPV and how worried should we be?
00:15HMPV is a respiratory disease similar to flu
00:18and has mild symptoms for most people.
00:20These include a cough, fever and nasal congestion.
00:23But it can cause more serious complications
00:26like bronchitis and pneumonia in young children
00:28and people with weakened immune systems.
00:31Many countries in the Northern Hemisphere,
00:32including China, are seeing a rise in cases.
00:35Videos on social media have shown
00:37seemingly overwhelmed hospitals
00:39and have sparked fears of another global pandemic.
00:42However, health experts say the increased prevalence
00:45is likely normal for the seasonal increase
00:47usually seen in winter months.
00:49Data shows that these countries have been experiencing
00:51a spike in HMPV cases since October last year.
00:55In terms of how worried we should be,
00:57health authorities say that fears
00:58of a COVID-19-style pandemic are overblown.
01:01According to the experts, HMPV has been around for decades,
01:04so a lot of people have developed
01:06a level of immunity against it.
01:08Standard general precautions such as wearing a mask,
01:11washing hands and getting the flu vaccine
01:13are being recommended for those who might be at risk
01:15of contracting the disease.