Britons must remain alert for the hidden symptoms of a potentially dangerous flu-like virus that has already caused chaos in China, experts warned today.
Cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection have increased in northern Chinese provinces in recent days, mainly among children.
And MailOnline can reveal that the virus, which can prove fatal in the most vulnerable, is already on British shores and its prevalence is increasing.
The latest data from the UK shows that cases of the virus – responsible for crowded hospital waiting rooms in China eerily similar to the early days of Covid – have seen a “marked rise” in recent weeks, greater than in the same time last year.
United Kingdom HMPV cases first emerged in 2001, with approximately only four cases per week detected by PCR testing in winter, on average.
But experts have now warned that a hidden surge may be underway, as the virus can lurk in the body for days before causing telltale symptoms, leaving people to spread it unknowingly.
However, they warned that the increase in cases “should not cause undue concern.”
HMPV usually causes symptoms similar to those of the common cold, including cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and fever, which disappear after about five days.
The above is a screenshot of a video posted online that claims to show an overwhelmed hospital unit in China.
Experts have warned that the virus itself, like the flu, can remain in the body for days before causing telltale symptoms.
The graph above shows the proportion of hospital visits for flu-like illnesses in northern China’s provinces by week. The red line corresponds to the 2024-2025 flu season and shows that levels are at their highest level since 2021.
But more serious symptoms, such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia, can occur, and patients experience shortness of breath, severe cough or wheezing.
Experts have urged Britons to be wary of flu-like symptoms for fear it is actually HMPV.
Professor John Tregoning, an expert in vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, said: It has very similar symptoms (at least in children) to RSV.
‘It is part of the winter virus cocktail we are exposed to and, like other viruses, will be transmitted through coughs, sneezes and droplets.
“Protecting yourself by being in well-ventilated spaces, covering your mouth when coughing and washing your hands will be of great help.”
Like advice related to Covid and RSV, those infected should “rest, stay hydrated and try not to infect others,” he added.
The above are clips from videos claiming to show overwhelmed hospitals in China.
‘If you feel very unwell, see your GP. As this is a virus, antibiotics will have no effect.’
Unlike Covid, there is still no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for HMPV and treatment mainly involves managing symptoms.
Jaya Dantas, professor of international health at Curtin University in Australia, added: “We need to use a cautious and measured approach as we know much more since the Covid pandemic.”
‘We need to get tested, stay home and away from others if we have an infection, wear a mask in public and protect the most vulnerable.
“In young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems, HMPV can cause severe cases and move to the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia.”
Other experts, however, cautioned that the increase in cases “is not something that should cause undue concern.”
Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, added: “HPMV has been known since 2001 and has been circulating in humans for at least 50 years, probably much longer.”
“Unfortunately, it is associated with pneumonia, especially in young children, but fortunately it is rare.”
Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: ‘Almost all children will have at least one HMPV infection before their fifth birthday, and we can expect to have multiple reinfections throughout life.
‘It is one of the main viral causes of respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age.
“In England we have seen quite a marked increase in recent weeks.”
However, he added: “One of the problems involved with these types of infections is that they are diagnosed more frequently, so it is not always easy to know whether the increases year after year are due to real increases or simply because we are diagnosing a higher proportion of infections.’
Health officials in Beijing They have downplayed these events as an annual winter phenomenon.
But the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that rates of multiple flu-like illnesses are increasing.
in your latest reportDuring the week to December 29, data suggested that 7.2 per cent of outpatient visits to local hospitals in the northern provinces were due to flu-like illness.
This was 12 percent more than the previous week and above levels for the same week in every flu season since 2021.
Data from the southern part of the country suggested that 5.7 percent of outpatient visits were due to flu-like illnesses.
This was 21 percent more than the previous week, and also above the level of the same week in 2021, when 4.1 percent of visits were due to flu-like illnesses.
However, it was below the 2022 and 2023 levels.
The UK itself is currently battling its own flu wave. Surveillance programs monitoring the outbreak in England suggest that flu hospital admissions are quadrupling from a month ago.
Figures show that more than 4,500 beds were occupied by flu patients each day last week, 3.5 times more than the same week last year.
Of those, 211 were in critical care, 69 percent more than the previous week.
Experts also said they expect “things to get worse before they get better” as more people have socialized indoors over the Christmas and New Year period.