Five years after the first recorded cases of Covid-19, China is facing a surge in the number of cases of another respiratory virus.
Identified as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), an increase in cases in northern provinces of China has led to a public health emergency, with children most vulnerable. The World Health Organisation has yet to issue global guidance, while government officials in Beijing said rising infections were a result of the winter season.
HMPV is not a new virus but causes similar symptoms to influenza and other respiratory viruses circulating at this time of year. It has been reported that emergency measures have been put in place in some hospitals in China to manage the spread of HMPV infections.
Cases have been reported in Hong Kong, while in India pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people have been advised to wear masks by Kerala Health Minister Veena George. The latest viral outbreak comes five years after the first cases of Covid-19 were reported around the world, that later evolved into a global pandemic claiming more than seven million lives.
Respiratory viruses usually spread more widely during winter, with vaccination campaigns for influenza introduced across the UAE in October to restrict the spread of infections similar to HMPV. In the UK, NHS data showed cases of flu increased during the Christmas and New Year period, with more than 5,000 patients in hospital in the first week of 2025 – three-and-a-half times higher than the same period in 2024.
According to the NHS, there was also an average of 74 children with RSV in hospital every day in early January, up almost 50 per cent for the same period in 2023. A further 1,184 beds were occupied by patients with Covid-19 a day on average, UK health officials said.
“These latest figures show the pressure from flu was nowhere near letting up before we headed into the New Year, skyrocketing to over 5,000 cases a day in hospital as of the end of last week and rising at a very concerning rate,” said Prof Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care. “On top of flu there is also continual pressure from Covid, while RSV and norovirus hospital cases are also higher than last year.”
What is HMPV and how is it transmitted?
The human metapneumovirus was identified in 2001 by scientists in the Netherlands, although it is believed to have been circulating globally for at least 50 years. Similar to influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), HMPV can cause respiratory tract infections in patients of all ages, but children and the elderly are most vulnerable. The virus is passed on through close contact with those infected, or direct contact with their secretions. Symptoms usually begin three to five days after exposure.
What are the symptoms and how can they be treated?
Mild symptoms are similar to other respiratory viruses and include sore throat and fever, a cough, runny nose or nasal congestion. In more severe cases, breathing difficulties and pneumonia can develop. Treatment varies with the severity of symptoms, with medication to reduce fever, antihistamines and breathing treatments bringing effective relief.
When is HMPV passed on?
Cases usually develop in winter, and while there is limited data on reinfection rates it is understood a repeat infection results in milder symptoms. As with other respiratory infections like influenza or Covid-19, covering the mouth and nose when sneezing can prevent further infections, and regular hand washing.
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Louis Tomlinson
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Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
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Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
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Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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US PGA Championship in numbers
1 Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.
2 To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.
3 Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.
4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.
5 In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.
6 For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.
7 Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.
8 Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.
9 Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.
10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.
11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.
12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.
13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.
14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.
15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.
16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.
17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.
18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).
