Beijing Denies Rumors of 'Unknown Virus' Outbreak in China

​​​​​​​Recently, there has been a lot of attention on the increase in cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. Some are concerned over the safety of traveling to China, and claims about "unknown virus in China" even make rounds online.

The overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China are lower than last year, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday, noting that the Chinese side will continue to do what's necessary to make sure it is comfortable, safe and convenient for domestic and foreign travellers in China.

Recently, there has been a lot of attention on the increase in cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. Some are concerned over the safety of traveling to China, and claims about "unknown virus in China" even make rounds online.

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Spokesman Guo Jiakun was quick to brush off the said claims in his daily press briefing, stating that the competent authorities have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus, but it had circulated among humans for at least 60 years and was merely a common virus causing upper respiratory infections.

"HMPV infections are self-limited. Calling this common virus 'unknown' is inconsistent with basic science and essentially fearmongering," he said.

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The Chinese government takes seriously the health of its own people and foreign nationals living in China, the spokesperson said, noting that China's competent authorities and technical agencies took proactive steps to carry out sentinel surveillance for various acute respiratory infectious diseases and released surveillance results.

Chinese disease control experts have reiterated to the public on several instances how to make science-based protecting steps. Also, China and WHO are in continuous and regular consultation and share of timely information pertaining to respiratory disease, added by Guo.

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HMPV belongs to the family Pneumoviridae and is found alongside Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, broader use of molecular diagnostic testing has increased the identification and awareness of HMPV as an important cause of upper and lower respiratory infection, discovered in 2001.

HMPV can cause both upper and lower respiratory disease among all age groups but is especially seen among young children, older adults, and people whose immune systems have weakened. According to the CDC.

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HMPV shows most of its activity in temperate climates late in the winter and in early spring. CDC's National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System has this surveillance data.

According to the CDC, symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.

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Unlike Covid-19 and the flu, there is no vaccine for HMPV or antiviral drugs to treat it. Instead, doctors care for seriously ill people by tending to their symptoms.

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