Operational information about the spread of hMPV (human metapneumovirus).

After the 2019 coronavirus, when the entire world was plunged into total chaos, the World Health Organization actively promoted the idea of the “upcoming Pandemic X,” which would inevitably become far more devastating for all of humanity. Summits were convened, billions were secured for the “future fight,” they demanded that countries hand over healthcare management to the WHO, control over medicine, and also sign a special “pandemic agreement.”

And now all the world’s media are reporting on the spread of a dangerous disease — the respiratory metapneumovirus. Incidence is rising among the young population, and it is reported that mortality is extremely high and there is no vaccine! In turn, experts under governments have started talking about the possible need to introduce a “mask regime.”

Readers are writing to me, asking for comments. I obtained all the latest data from primary sources to compile operational information on the spread of the metapneumovirus.

What kind of virus is it?

The human metapneumovirus was first identified in the Netherlands back in 2001 — it was named hMPV. It belongs to the Pneumoviridae family of RNA viruses. It usually has a seasonal nature, similar to outbreaks of influenza and other ARVIs.

Having studied the samples, researchers discovered a virus structurally similar to the viruses of the paramyxoviridae family — a group of viruses that cause diseases such as measles, mumps, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — whose genes were linked to the avian metapneumovirus that infects birds.

The virus causes infections of the upper and lower respiratory tracts and is dangerous for children and the elderly. As a rule, in most cases the disease is mild, but in individuals with weakened immune systems, more serious complications such as bronchitis or pneumonia may develop.

It is transmitted by airborne droplets and through contact-household routes. There is no specific treatment, and no vaccines exist! Therapy is aimed at symptomatic relief.

Researchers gave HMPV the same name as its avian relative, suggesting that the virus likely passed from birds to humans and then evolved.

It is believed that this virus circulated among humans completely unnoticed at least since the 1950s. Now it has begun to progress due to the overall decline in humanity’s immunity after social distancing and mask-wearing during COVID-19. 

What happened now?

The outbreak began, just like the coronavirus in 2019, in China. From December 23 to December 29, 2024, the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) reported an increase in cases of acute respiratory infections, including the metapneumovirus.

When identifying the type of viruses in people, it was recorded that HMPV accounted for 6.2% of all respiratory diseases. This is a significant increase!

After that, by January 5, 2025, the disease began to be detected in other countries. Thus, Kazakhstan reported the identification of 30 cases of the metapneumovirus; this is about 1.6% of all tested samples for influenza viral diseases. Kazakhstan, together with China, has stepped up monitoring!

China, in turn, reported that the main increase in morbidity was recorded in the northern provinces of the country. Predominantly affected are children under 14 and elderly people over 60.

The confirmed symptoms include: cough, runny nose, fever, headache, shortness of breath.

Incubation period: from 3 to 6 days.

In children and the elderly, complications in the form of pneumonia are observed, which occurs in the first 24 hours after infection. Complications are especially pronounced in people with weakened immune systems!

In turn, enhanced monitoring of respiratory infections has been introduced in other countries, for instance, in Cambodia and Taiwan.

What do they say in Taiwan?

The publication money.udn.com, which is part of the largest Taiwanese media holding United Daily News (UDN), reported that the mortality rate from the metapneumovirus reaches 43%.

I quote the publication:

“China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that after winter, the number of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) interstitial pneumonia cases increased, and its mortality rate reaches 43%. Dr. Zhou Baiqian from Peking University noted that the epidemic predominantly affects children under 14, and there is a risk of it spreading to adults and other regions. If the situation deteriorates, Taiwan will need to strengthen preparedness measures.”

“Zhou Baiqian noted that the mortality rate from the human metapneumovirus interstitial pneumonia reaches 43%, which is a serious concern. However, the data from mainland China are less transparent than in Taiwan, so they can only be considered approximate. The development of the epidemic requires constant monitoring.

There are currently no rapid screening methods for the human metapneumovirus interstitial pneumonia. Unlike COVID-19 tests, reagents for HMPV diagnosis are specialized and less available. PCR or viral culture is required to confirm the diagnosis, which takes a lot of time.”

“<…> currently, there are no antiviral drugs for treating the human metapneumovirus interstitial pneumonia, and only supportive therapy is used. However, unlike influenza or COVID-19, if an infection is suspected, doctors can prescribe steroids, which help in fighting the virus.”

What do they say in Russia?

Our media mostly retell the same information; there is no specific data. Meanwhile, on January 1, pneumonia incidence was recorded in Russia. Rospotrebnadzor gave the following comments:

“There is an increase in the activity of acute respiratory viral infections, typical for this time of year. In the structure of pathogens, the share of influenza viruses is increasing, with influenza A (H1N1) 2009 dominating. This virus more often than others causes severe disease and leads to pulmonary complications.”

According to the agency itself, influenza progresses within a day until severe consequences develop! The most common of these is pneumonia, accounting for 65% of all complications. At the same time, the authorities noted the possibility of a fatal outcome.

Meanwhile, earlier on December 1, 2024, the authorities and the media cited an increase in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia in the country. I will quote RBC:

“The number of people infected with mycoplasma pneumonia in Russia is growing, and children and people with weakened immune systems are most often affected.

From October to December 2023, the detection rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae was 4.9% (of those tested), and in the fall of 2024 it was already 19.6%, according to laboratory statistics. Bulanov noted that an outbreak started each year closer to autumn. For example, in April–June 2024, 10.8% of those tested had mycoplasma pneumonia, and ‘in July–September, the figure rose to 21.5%.’

“In October, 16 regions of Russia recorded a spike in pneumonia incidence. Such a situation developed, for instance, in the Sverdlovsk, Tomsk, Leningrad, Pskov, Kostroma, Vologda, and Omsk regions, the Komi and Udmurt Republics, and the Altai and Kamchatka Krais.”

What else?

Similar news about the spread of the metapneumovirus was actively published back in 2023. Thus, the major publication EuroNEWS.com published the following information on June 2, 2023!

Next, I quote:

“After the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in human metapneumovirus infections worldwide, causing ARVI. Scientists link this to the overall decline in immunity due to wearing masks and social distancing.”

“According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this spring in the country saw a sharp rise in HMPV cases, and hospital intensive care units are filled with young children and elderly patients.

In mid-March, almost 11% of tested patients turned out positive for HMPV — this is about 36% higher than the pre-pandemic seasonal peak, which was 7%. 

According to John Williams, professor of pediatrics, microbiology, and molecular genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, the recent spike in HMPV detection in the US “resembles the higher than usual rates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza in the fall of 2022 and winter of 2023,” which followed the pandemic, he writes in The Conversation.”

“After two years of social distancing and mask-wearing, the population’s immunity has decreased, and people have started getting flu and colds more often.

In the UK, the peak incidence of HMPV apparently occurred in winter, when 5.4% of hospitalized adult patients tested positive for it.

According to the UK Health Security Agency, in the week from May 15 to May 21, 0.8% of patients tested positive for HMPV. Among children under 5, this figure in May was 1.4%, down from the winter peak — back then it was 12.2%.”

Accordingly, already last year major international media began to talk actively about this virus. The information on the CDC (USA) website, which the media referred to, was archived and is no longer available.

Let’s summarize

So far, the WHO has not declared an emergency, but all countries around the world are monitoring the spread of the metapneumovirus. No one yet understands exactly what is happening, and there are few methods to detect this disease! Taiwan says the mortality rate can reach over 40%, while our Rospotrebnadzor reports a “controlled situation.” But at the same time, it refers to a different form of illnesses.

Judging by data from China, the disease really is progressing, but we can only talk about any definitive data based on the results of receiving up-to-date information.

In Russia, the virus can be brought in from China, since there is now a very large flow of Chinese tourism to our country. Mass tourism is being developed not only in the regions of Siberia and the Far East, but also in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities.

Our Russian media are actively writing and talking about the spread of the disease in China, but the authorities are not closing tourism from the Celestial Empire. No one is restricting anything. In reality, if the situation were truly critical, the borders would have to be closed first of all. Unless, of course, the task is to deliberately allow further spread of the virus. 

Also, I am unsettled by the fact that the WHO, which predicted the imminent “Disease X” and clung to every local illness in the world, blowing it up to enormous proportions, suddenly fell silent after information about the spread of the metapneumovirus appeared.

We need to keep track of the rest of the data. In case of any updates, changes in the dynamics of the virus spread, this material will be updated.

Take care of yourselves and your children!

Breathe clean air; instead of walking around cities, go to forest parks and woodland areas! Put out bird feeders, hug the trees, talk to the Forest.

© PAVEL PASHKOV