Infections of the viral disease human metapneumovirus (HMPV) are rising among children northern China, according to Chinese state media.
The surge in respiratory virus cases has raised alarm online, with some drawing parallels to the global pandemic that begun in Wuhan, China, five years ago.
HMPV is now one of the top four most common viral infections among hospital patients in China, but the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said the scale of the spread is small.
Ning said: “Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season. The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a smaller scale compared to the previous year.” Videos circulating online, reportedly showing overwhelmed hospitals in China, have sparked concern about the severity of the viral disease.