A viral outbreak is currently straining hospitals in China, leading to a resurgence in the use of face masks among the public.
Reports indicate that a lesser-known virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), is responsible for this situation.
Typically, HMPV results in mild cold-like symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and wheezing, but it can escalate to bronchitis or pneumonia, especially in children.
The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets and close contact, making it particularly contagious in densely populated areas.
This scenario mirrors the winter of 2022/23 when China experienced a surge in mycoplasma pneumonia cases, referred to as 'white lung,' which is generally mild.
That outbreak was attributed to children's diminished natural immunity due to strict lockdowns and school closures implemented to control COVID-19.
However, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the current outbreak is primarily driven by seasonal influenza, with 30 percent of tests returning positive for the virus and one in seven hospitalized patients with severe respiratory issues testing positive for influenza.
The Chinese CDC has issued warnings about increasing rates of various flu-like illnesses. Their latest data, covering the week ending December 29, indicates that 7.2 percent of outpatient visits in northern provinces were due to flu-like symptoms, marking a 12 percent increase from the previous week and surpassing figures from the same week in previous flu -seasons since 2021.
In southern regions, 5.7 percent of outpatient visits were attributed to flu-like illnesses, reflecting a 21 percent rise from the prior week, although this figure remains lower than the levels recorded in 2022 and 2023.