HMPV symptoms to look out for as ‘mystery virus’ cases soar in the UK

Cases of the HMPV virus are dramatically rising in the UK, just weeks after reports of the ‘mystery’ illness in China sparked concern online about another pandemic.

Health bosses in the UK are on high alert as the latest data shows cases are on the rise, with those over the age of 80 most at risk.

The latest report from the UK’s Health and Security Agency indicates an uptick in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases, rising to 4.9 per cent. The highest positivity was seen in those aged 80 years and over, at 7.3 per cent.

China recently experienced a spike in HMPV cases, becoming one of the top four most common viral infections among hospital patients in the country. Reports of overcrowded hospitals in China sparked concerns about another pandemic, just five years after the emergence of COVID-19.

UK health bosses confirmed the seasonal surge had also hit the UK, the percentage of people testing positive for HMPV after visiting their GP with respiratory symptoms increased from 2.24 per cent to 4.53 per cent in December 2024.

Experts warn the former ‘mystery virus’ does not have pandemic potential but HMPV can cause serious illness in the elderly, children, or immunocompromised people.

Being aware of the symptoms of HMPV can protect you and others, particularly vulnerable people who are most at risk.

HMPV is a common seasonal virus that causes cold or flu-like symptoms. The viral disease is from the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and is one of the viruses that causes the ‘common cold’.

Symptoms are similar to those of other common respiratory viruses, which include a cough, fever, body aches, a blocked nose, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The incubation period of HMPV is three to six days.

In serious