Even as the world fixates on hMPV, a genuine pandemic threat is emerging in the form of H5N1 bird flu. The virus has jumped to cows and spread across the country through dairy herds, poultry farms and even zoos, infecting millions of animals and dozens of people, the vast majority of them farm workers.

Authorities in China said they are monitoring cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, after a reported increase inside the country, according to Reuters. Although cases are increasing at a rapid rate,

Symptoms of HMPV are similar to that of the common cold and can include a cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, wheezing, shortness of breath and a rash. It can also cause upper and lower respiratory infections.

Five years on from the first news of COVID, recent reports of an obscure respiratory virus in China may understandably raise concerns.

HMPV is attracting a lot of interest because it is not a household name, but it was discovered in 2001, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said in Geneva.

The recent surge in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China has alarmed the population, drawing comparisons to COVID-19.