The US is monitoring cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections after a reported surge in cases across China.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was currently looking at reports of increasing cases in the US but played down any concern.
It comes as Indonesia has started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia amid concern over rising HMPV infections across the region.
Those travelling to Bali will have to fill out a form three days before their arrival to the island providing a record of passengers’ health, according to local health authorities.
Singapore said on Wednesday it had witnessed a spike in HMPV infections at the end of 2024 but added that it was consistent with expectations due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious disease expert associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University, said it was “vital” for China to share information in a “timely manner”.
The virus, which causes flu or cold-like symptoms, has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
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US monitoring cases
The US is monitoring cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections after a reported surge in cases across China.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was currently looking at reports of increasing cases in the US but played down any concern.
It comes as Indonesia has started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia amid concern over rising HMPV infections across the region.
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ICYMI: Bali ramps up monitoring of arrivals from China and Malaysia amid HMPV outbreak
Indonesian authorities have begun monitoring flights from China and Malaysia due to concerns over the increasing number of HMPV infections.
According to the local health authorities, nationals from China and Malaysia arriving in Bali have to fill out a health pass three days before their arrival to the island to keep a record of passengers’ health issues like body temperature, cold or flu symptoms.
Maroosha Muzaffar8 January 2025 08:30
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
With reports of overcrowding in Chinese hospitals, leaders in the country are attempting to control a new wave of the virus with a spike in cases in northern regions, particularly amongst children.
A surge in cases has also been reported in India, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms. Most cases are mild, but infection can increase health risks – particularly for the elderly, young children and people with a low immune system – and lead to severe complications such as pneumonia.
Maroosha Muzaffar8 January 2025 08:00
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
An increase in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in China has received widespread media coverage, but leading scientists and public health experts say there isn’t yet a cause for alarm.
Chinese health authorities last month reported a rise in children aged 14 and under testing positive for HMPV as part of a broader update on the respiratory virus season.
Photos and videos posted on social media in recent days show crowded hospitals in China, sparking concerns over the virus spreading to other countries and causing a Covid-like outbreak.
The concerns come just as the world completes five years since the novel coronavirus infection was first reported in China’s Wuhan.
However, experts emphasise that HMPV is neither new nor poses an unusual threat to global health.
Maroosha Muzaffar8 January 2025 07:30