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 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.

Cases of HMPV have doubled in the UK since early December with many Brits having been struck down in the country with symptoms similar to those of the common cold

While cases are climbing in China, the situation is very different from what it was when Covid-19 emerged five years ago, medical experts say. HMPV has circulated in humans for decades.

As respiratory diseases enter a peak period in winter, multiple foreign media outlets have been exaggerating reports of a surge in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, claiming that it has overwhelmed local hospitals.

Cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, are in the U.S. too, and it looks similar to other seasonal illnesses. Here's what to know before you panic.

The World Health Organization has said that the metapneumovirus (hMPV) that caused the outbreak in China is not a new virus, as it was discovered more than 20 years ago. This virus with an updated name circulates in the winter and spring,

Symptoms of HMPV are similar to that of the cold and flu, they can include: More serious symptoms which require medical attention can include wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, severe fatigue, dehydration, or a fever that does not improve.

Authorities in Beijing have downplayed surge in cases, which comes five years after world was first alerted to emergence of Covid-19

Experts say the disease is likely not going to be the next pandemic and the worry is a result of heightened wariness for respiratory illness in a post-Covid world. HMPV is a respiratory virus that regularly circulates during cold and flu season.

HMPV: The Situation in China. A spokesperson for the World Health Organization told Newsweek: "The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention publishes weekly reports on it

A virus that's not well known to the public is spiking in China. CDC officials said HMPV is not a cause for concern here, nor is it a new virus.