What is human metapneumovirus, are cases surging in China, and should we be worried?

“HMPV is not like Covid-19, in that it has been around for several decades and there is a level of immunity in the global population from past infections, the experts said. Covid-19 was a new disease which had never infected humans before, driving the pandemic-level spread. ‘I don’t think we’re necessarily concerned about a pandemic with this virus, but the surge in cases and impact it’s having are significant,’ said Griffin. ‘A good lesson can be taken [from the pandemic] to reduce the spread, particularly given we don’t have vaccines or antivirals for HMPV.’”