The year 2025 has dawned with a new respiratory illness-- caused by human metapneumovirus (HMPV)--outbreak in China creating a scare among the people here. Coming as it does five years since the outbreak of Covid-19,

China: A new virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), is spreading in China, particularly among children under 14. Although cases are rising in China, no HMPV cases have been reported in India so far.

For the past few days, reports of a massive flu outbreak in China have been circulating abroad, particularly in India and Indonesia. Health officials, however, maintain the outbreak is an annual occurrence during the winter.

There has been a sudden rise in the number of a COVID-like disease called Human Metapneumovirus HMPV in China. The deadly virus is spreading rapidly in China, giving nostalgia of COVID-19 of 2020. There had been multiple social media posts claiming the virus is spreading rapidly.

China faces an HMPV outbreak, with hospitals overwhelmed by rising respiratory illnesses. The virus primarily affects children and the elderly, mimicking flu symptoms, and poses severe risks for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

After the epidemic of COVID-19, which troubled the world and left lasting impacts globally, recent viral videos emerging on social media show hospitals in China overwhelmed by a surge in respiratory illnesses.

China has reported the outbreak of another respiratory virus — human metapneumovirus (HMPV) — which is rapidly spreading in several parts of the country. Amid the rise in cases, health authorities across the world are warning over the outbreak and emphasising on enhancing hygiene measures such as wearing face masks and washing hands.