News of a respiratory virus spreading in China and footage of crowded hospitals has predictably led to panic among the people of the world, who are concerned that the human metapneumovirus (HMPV)

Health concerns are growing amid a recent uptick in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), bird flu, and norovirus.

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.

The CDC has reported an increase in HMPV cases in northern China, following reports from Beijing-run media confirming a significant rise in positivity rates among children aged 14 and younger, The New York Post reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently monitoring reports of a spike in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, as the US sees an increase in such cases. The CDC said it was aware of increasing HMPV cases in northern China following reports from Beijing-run media confirming positivity rates have risen significantly among children 14 and younger.