There’s been reports of a surge in cases of a respirator virus in China that has evoked dark echoes of the start of the covid-19 pandemic almost five years ago. The Chinese cases are reported to be infectious with Human Metapneumoia Virus known to doctors as HMPV. Dr. Richard Jackson, Adjunct Professor of Biology and Chemistry at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology says the virus is similar to a cold.

“HMPV is actually a rather common virus that causes cold symptoms. So, think of the fall, early winter, midwinter and you get a cold. About 10 to 15 % of cases are actually caused by HMPV.”

The symptoms of an HMPV infection are also similar to the common cold.

“Runny nose, cough, tiredness, sore throat, swelling in your throat, sneezing, maybe low-grade fever.”

Dr. Jackson shared a misconception about HMPV.

“I think that one thing we need to realize is China, they did not come from what we would say a verified source was, and so it caused a lot of fear. About two or three weeks after those first reports came out, the World Health Organization came out with a report that said the increase in HMPV in northern China, which is happening this time of year in all the northern climates, was within the expected range. And so just like we were talking about two weeks ago here in the United States, the range was, we had some people that were a little above the average, some areas that were a little below. What happened in China was within the expected range, so it shouldn't have caused fear. And the other thing to remember is that when people hear virus out of China, they immediately think of COVID. And this was completely, this virus is completely different from COVID.”

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