China's New Virus Outbreak - What We Know So Far; US-China Relations: Hacking - China Update

[hlthe2b]

3. Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not new. It circulates in the US and elsewhere in winter at same time as RSV, FLU

and COVID-19 (and Mycoplasma pneumonia--as well as common cold variants, especially Adenoviruses).

Whether a more virulent "strain" might be on the uptick in China is unclear, but those suggesting this is a new virus need to study virology a bit more. It was specifically identified in 2001 by the Dutch, but serology samples show antibodies to it in humans dating to the 1950s. As with many respiratory viruses (e.g., RSV) it is generally more a threat in young children.

Honestly, we need to focus on H5N1 (avian flu) which is rapidly spreading from dairy farm to dairy farm and potentially mutating to infect other species--including most domestic and wild cats in zoos. Right now, spread to humans has been "recoverable" albeit with significant symptoms-- and given the most uninsured population (mostly immigrants or low wage agricultural workers) are most at risk and do not receive the available (albeit short-supplied) vaccine stocks are providing a damnable opportunity for it to evolve, spread, and become a major threat.