Have you seen reports about a “new” virus spreading in China? HMPV was first identified in 2001. Here are the symptoms it causes.

In late December, an increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China triggered widespread concerns, especially as social media videos of crowded hospitals fueled speculation about a potential global health crisis.

News that northern China is seeing a surge of the respiratory illness called human metapneumovirus (HMPV), bringing an uptick in hospitalizations, is sparking a bit of anxious déjà vu on social media.