As photos emerge on social media showing hospitals in China swamped with people amid rising cases of human metapneumovirus or HMPV - a respiratory illness with symptoms similar to those of a flu - there are concerns of another health crisis.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called it an annual occurrence in winter and assured that the country is safe to travel

China is experiencing a surge in respiratory illnesses, particularly Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). This virus has several similarities to the Covid-19 virus.

China: A new virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), is spreading in China, particularly among children under 14. Although cases are rising in China, no HMPV cases have been reported in India so far.

For the past few days, reports of a massive flu outbreak in China have been circulating abroad, particularly in India and Indonesia. Health officials, however, maintain the outbreak is an annual occurrence during the winter.

Amid reports of a massive flu outbreak in the country, China has said that the cases of respiratory diseases that occur during the winter were less severe this year than last year. The Chinese Foreign Ministry declared it safe for foreigners to travel to Beijing.

India said that it is closely monitoring the increasing cases in neighbouring China. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said that it is closely monitoring respiratory and seasonal influenza cases in the country.

China is experiencing a surge in respiratory illnesses, particularly Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), with symptoms similar to the common cold or flu. This rise has led to overcrowded hospitals and concerns over multiple co-circulating viruses.