China has been battling an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which causes symptoms similar to influenza and COVID-19 and currently has no corresponding vaccine. Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director Tseng Shu-Hui (曾淑慧) said HMPV may affect Taiwan and they are closely monitoring the outbreak.

According to Tseng, HMPV is a common type of respiratory virus that mainly causes more serious illness in young children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems. In the general public, symptoms of infection are similar to the common cold. 

Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s Dr. Chen Chih-jung (陳志榮) said in an interview on Thursday that HMPV is similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which mainly infects children under 2 years of age, while HMPV tends to infect older children. He explained that while it mainly affects the lower respiratory tract and some infected children may require hospitalization, the disease is less severe than influenza.

Chen pointed out that HMPV affects Taiwan year-round and increased incidence of infection is occasionally observed, but that most children recover well. He encourages the public to avoid crowded places, wear a mask, and wash hands frequently to reduce the spread of infectious disease.