A doctor has taken to social media to dispel fears about the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), insisting it’s “nothing new” and not like Covid. Videos have been circulating online showing hospitals seemingly overrun with HMPV patients, with children seen coughing in long queues for paediatric units.
Unverified reports of overwhelmed crematoriums and funeral homes have also emerged. However, Dr Niamh Lynch, an Irish paediatrician, used her TikTok platform to reassure her 100,000 followers that there’s no cause for alarm.
She said: “I see this every day of the week, every week of the winter, because its nothing new. We deal with HMPV all the time.”
China’s centre for disease control (CDC) has also dismissed reports of another pandemic. Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Friday: “Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season,” adding that the diseases appear to be less severe and spread on a smaller scale compared to the previous year, reports the Mirror.
Dr Niamh explained that the symptoms of HMPV are similar to the common flu and are treated as such. She added: “It can cause upper respiratory symptoms like sore throats or ears – it can cause a croupy cough and it can cause a little bit of wheeze.”
Dr Niamh explained: “You manage it much the same as you with any other viral illness – so with pain relief, fluids, and plenty of rest and contacting your doctor if you’re concerned about yourself or your child.”
She suggested that people are mentioning HMPV in the “same sentences as Covid just to get our attention and scare us that little bit more.” The increase in infection rates could be due to improved technology tracking the disease, she added. Importantly, unlike Covid-19, HMPV is not a new virus.
It has been around for several decades, meaning there is some immunity in the global population from past infections. One TikTok follower commented: “It’s not new. My twins had this over a year ago. Sickest they have ever been.”
Other followers expressed their gratitude for Dr Niamh’s advice. Emma said: “OMG, thanks for putting my mind at ease.”
Charlotte echoed her sentiments, saying: “Thank you for this video. It helped my anxiety.”