In China, an outbreak triggered by the human HMPV Meta-Pneumovirus is causing overcrowding in hospitals, which in several videos currently circulating on social media appear literally overrun with sick patients. These include many children, adults and the elderly, and wearing masks. Local media in the country are also reporting that a little-known virus is spreading and that the disease causes a range of cold-like symptoms that could be at the root of a new outbreak. Information from cremation services and funeral homes overwhelmed with requests was also shared in videos circulated on social media. This figure, however, has not yet been confirmed by official media.
Currently, a report by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that a flu is spreading rapidly in the country and found 30 percent tested positive for HMPV. In addition, one in seven people have been hospitalized with severe respiratory illness after testing positive for the virus.
As the Daily Mail reports, the Chinese government and the World Health Organization have not yet commented on the contents of videos widely circulated on social media showing hospitals overrun with people. However, Chinese officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that several flu-like illnesses are on the rise and point out that currently 7.2 percent of outpatient visits to local hospitals in China’s northern provinces were due to a flu-like illness other than HMPV.
