As China continues to monitor an increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), here's what you need to know about the illness.

While cases are climbing in China, the situation is very different from what it was when Covid-19 emerged five years ago, medical experts say. HMPV is common and decades old.

As cases of the HMPV virus continue to increase in the U.S. and in China, here's what you need to know about the virus.

Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia notes that almost every child contracts HMPV by five years of age, with reinfections occurring throughout life. “HMPV typically causes cold-like symptoms that recover by themselves within 2 to 5 days. Severe cases are rare but can occur in vulnerable groups,” he says.

HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms. However, it can increase risks or lead to more serious complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, particularl

In late December, an increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China triggered widespread concerns, especially as social media videos of crowded hospitals fueled speculation about a potential global health crisis.