The panic over HMPV began when videos of hospitals in China started making rounds on social media, clearly intending to fuel panic among civilians. But the Human Metapneumovirus outbreak in China still instilled a tad bit of panic among Indians as at least seven cases have been reported till now.

As China experiences a rise in respiratory infections this winter, one little-known virus has gotten a lot of attention – and some people may worry whether the rise in cases could be felt more broadly around the world.

A rise in cases of human metapneumovirus in China is stoking fears of a new health crisis, though authorities and experts say prospects for a sequel to the COVID-19 pandemic are remote. The big picture: HMPV is similar to respiratory syncytial virus,