UK health bosses have been put on high alert as cases of a virus originally dubbed the 'mystery' illness from China have seen a dramatic increase over the past week.
Earlier this month, China put in place emergency measures after the virus, now identified as HMPV, began to surge in several northern provinces.
On social media, harrowing images depicted hospitals overfilled with sick children affected by the severe disease, which displayed symptoms reminiscent of Covid-19.
Local news outlets broadcast people donning masks inside hospital facilities, with journalists noting a chilling resemblance to the early days of the Covid pandemic back in 2019, as reported by the Daily Star.