Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Guo Jiakun has denied reports of the spread of Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country, APA reports.
Speaking at a regular press conference on January 10, Jiakun has stated that the overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China are lower than last year: "Regarding the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) you mentioned, as we have learned from the competent authorities, it is not a new virus. HMPV has circulated in humans for at least 60 years and is a common virus that causes upper respiratory infections. HMPV infections are self-limited. Calling this common virus “unknown” is inconsistent with basic science and essentially fear-mongering."