WHO Declares HMPV Outbreak in China a Global Health Emergency

Opinion | Are we looking at the early stages of what will become yet another declaration of a global pandemic? The World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared that an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China is a global health emergency. At a press conference in Geneva on Jan. 2, 2025, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced that his organization’s emergency committee had met and recommended designating the HMPV outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), which is identical to the first step that was taken five  years ago in January 2020 before the declaration of a global coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

“The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries,” Ghebreyesus said. “Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems and which are ill-prepared to deal with it.”⁷

During the past few weeks, China has reportedly been experiencing a surge in cases of HMPV, leading to overcrowded hospitals and chaotic scenes reminiscent of the early days of COVID-19.^{5 6}

HMPV Symptoms Similar to COVID-19

HMPV is a communicable respiratory disease with symptoms similar to COVID, including coughing, fever, congestion, fatigue, sore throat and shortness of breath. It has an incubation period of three to six days. Similar to SARS-CoV-2 virus, HMPV can be transmitted through respiratory droplets released when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Health officials say the virus can remain on the surface of objects at room temperature and spread when individuals touch those objects.^{1 4 5 6}

Elderly adults, infants and those, who have compromised immune systems or chronic lung conditions, are apparently more likely to develop severe symptoms from HMPV. The disease can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia. People with serious symptoms are hospitalized and given oxygen, intravenous fluids, and steroids.^{1 2 4 5 6}

“It certainly can and does cause severe disease, that’s why I think it’s important that people know it’s out there,” said infectious disease physician Paul Griffin at Mater Health Services in Brisbane, Australia. “The challenge is at the moment there’s not much we can do except educate people [that] it’s around to reduce transmission. There’s no vaccine or antivirals, although there are some vaccines in development.”²

The respiratory symptoms associated with HMPV are similar to influenza and COVID disease.¹ According to a recent article in Great Britain’s Independent newspaper:

Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China emerged on social media platforms and local reports compared the scenes to the initial outbreak of Covid.⁶

Rapid Development of HMPV Vaccines Urged

In response to the rising number of HMPV cases, the Chinese government has announced public health measures including constant monitoring, mask waring, social distancing, and the disinfection of public areas. Meanwhile, the WHO officials have offered recommendations to help control the outbreak, including speeding up development of HMPV vaccines and drugs and creating strategies to combat what they have labeled as “misinformation.”^{5 7}

Sound familiar?

“I don’t think we’re necessarily concerned about a pandemic with this virus, but the surge in cases and impact it’s having are significant,” Dr. Griffin said. Earlier this week, there were reports of cases of HMPV in India, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia.^{2 9}

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