The human metapneumovirus is reportedly surging in China, but should Americans be concerned? Here's what to know about HMPV symptoms and more.

As cases of the HMPV virus continue to increase in the U.S. and in China, here's what you need to know about the virus.

A virus that's not well known to the public is spiking in China. CDC officials said HMPV is not a cause for concern here, nor is it a new virus.

Another similarity to COVID: A case of HMPV can last about a week, with symptoms peaking around the third day, Dr. Hoy told us. However, you can still be contagious for several days after you're feeling better and your symptoms subside. This is especially the case for patients with compromised or weakened immune systems.

HMPV is a respiratory virus identified in 2001, affecting mainly young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. It causes sympto

In China, reports of HMPV infections have indeed been rising in recent weeks in the more northerly regions. But so have reports of all the other respiratory pathogens including seasonal flu, rhinovirus and RSV.

Human metapneumovirus cases have been on the rise in the UK following fears of a surge in northern China leading to Covid comparisons - now the World Health Organisation has released a statement

Recently, there has been a lot of attention on the increase in cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China. Some are concerned about the safety of travelling to China and there are even claims about “unknown virus in China” circling on the internet.

Cases are climbing in China, but the situation is very different from when COVID-19 emerged five years ago, medical experts say. HMPV is common and decades old.

While news reports and social media videos have caused concern about a potential HMPV outbreak in China, experts from the WHO, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies say the rise is not currently a cause for concern and within the normal range for the season.