The rise of the infection in China and reports of overwhelmed hospitals has prompted concerns about another pandemic similar to Covid-19, but experts say the risk is low

Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia notes that almost every child contracts HMPV by five years of age, with reinfections occurring throughout life. “HMPV typically causes cold-like symptoms that recover by themselves within 2 to 5 days. Severe cases are rare but can occur in vulnerable groups,” he says.

A surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has prompted some alarm and led to fears of a possible new pandemic