Recent outbreaks of a respiratory virus have sparked fears in a world still recovering from COVID-19. 

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a illness with cold-like symptoms, has gained attention as infections surge in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly China. 

With scenes of crowded hospital wards circulating in global media, health professionals and the public are evaluating the potential risks and implications for Australia.

Despite rising global attention, HMPV is neither new nor an immediate cause for alarm in Australia.

Experts emphasise that while HMPV deserves monitoring, the situation in Australia remains stable and manageable.

First identified in 2001 in the Netherlands, human metapneumovirus is far from new to science. Retrospective studies revealed it had been circulating for decades before its discovery. 

“Serological studies showed that by the age of five, virtually all children in the Netherlands had been exposed to human metapneumovirus,” says Associate Professor Jacqueline Stephens, an epidemiologist at Flinders University.

HMPV generally causes mild respiratory symptoms such as cough, fever, and congestion. However, it can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and exacerbations of chronic respiratory diseases, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people. 

Unlike novel pathogens, repeated exposures to HMPV over a lifetime build partial immunity, often resulting in milder symptoms during subsequent infections.

HMPV typically spikes in late winter and spring, mirroring the behaviour of other respiratory viruses like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 

In the current outbreak in China, the virus has primarily impacted children, with some cases requiring hospitalisation. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the rise in respiratory illnesses in China aligns with expected seasonal trends, and global surveillance has not identified any unusual mutations in the virus.

In Australia, local data creates a reassuring picture. 

NSW Health reports a decline in diagnosed cases, from 1,428 in mid-December to 529 in early January. This downward trend reflects the normal ebb and flow of respiratory virus activity in the community.

Infectious diseases experts highlight the importance of measured responses to HMPV. 

“It is highly emotive seeing all those pictures of hospitals and people waiting... but this is a very different issue [from COVID-19],” Associate Professor Paul Griffin, a microbiologist, notes.  

Professor Jill Carr, a virologist at Flinders University, says comparisons to COVID-19 are unfounded. 

“This is very different to the COVID-19 pandemic, where the virus was completely new in humans,” she said, adding that the current outbreak in China represents a bad season rather than a global crisis.

In the absence of a vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, experts stress basic public health measures. Regular handwashing, mask-wearing in crowded settings, avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals, and staying home when unwell are proven strategies to limit the virus’s spread.

Professor Carr says lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic remain valuable. 

“Simple things like physical distancing, masking, and the use of rapid antigen tests can reduce HMPV spread,” she said.

Some experts have called on China to share its data on the outbreak in a timely manner, including epidemiologic data about who is getting infected and genomic data confirming that HMPV is the culprit.

Such data is crucial for detecting significant mutations and guiding vaccine development.

The Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) says it will continue monitoring the situation. 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CareerSpot News