Is HMPV another Covid-19-like scare in China? What we know so far…

China is witnessing a surge in respiratory illnesses, including HMPV, influenza, and Covid-19, predominantly affecting children and the elderly, as healthcare systems face mounting pressure. Five years after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, China is grappling with an outbreak of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV). Reports and social media posts suggest that the virus is spreading rapidly, with allegations of overwhelmed hospitals and crematories. Online videos show overcrowded hospitals, while users claim that multiple viruses — including influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19 — are circulating simultaneously.