Northern provinces in China have been hit with a surge of HMPV infections in the last three weeks. This has forced the centre for disease control (CDC) to warn the public to wear masks and avoid crowds. But claims of overwhelmed hospitals and fears of another pandemic that have been spreading on social media appear unsubstantiated.

Health authorities worldwide are on high alert as human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases surface beyond China’s borders, raising concerns about the potential for a global outbreak. Though China has yet to release official data on the virus’s prevalence,

China is currently being confronted with a not yet well-known virus. A lot of people who have contracted the virus in northern China are flocking to the hospital, causing an overwhelm in several Chinese hospitals.