UK on High Alert as ‘Mystery’ Virus Cases Surge – Brits Urged to ‘Mask Up’ to Curb Spread
The UK is on high alert as cases of a virus previously considered a “mystery illness” from China have surged in the past week. Earlier this month, China introduced emergency measures after cases of what was later identified as the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) began increasing in northern provinces.
Children seem to be the most affected by this illness, with social media posts showing overcrowded hospitals filled with young patients experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19. Videos and photos from China show people wearing masks in hospitals, with reports comparing the situation to the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019.
As the number of cases with symptoms like fever, cough, and sore throat peaked in China, studies revealed that the virus had already reached the UK. Now, the UK’s Health and Security Agency confirms that cases of HMPV are rising again.
According to their latest report, 4.9% of tests for HMPV are positive, with the highest rate, 7.3%, seen in people aged 80 and above. Out of 7,826 samples tested, the increase has raised concerns. This comes shortly after Brits were advised to “consider wearing face masks” to help reduce the spread.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, expressed her concerns on X (formerly Twitter) about how winter illnesses are affecting the NHS. She said:
“It’s hard to describe how challenging things are for our frontline staff right now. Flu and other viruses are putting a huge strain on our patients and NHS services.
“Staff are dealing with high numbers of A&E visits and ambulance calls, while also caring for seriously ill patients needing specialized treatment. During my visit to A&E this week, despite the pressure, the compassion and skill of the staff were remarkable – and this is true across the country.
“We’ve put plans in place to handle the extra demand, including using critical incident protocols, adding more hospital beds than last year, and introducing ways to care for people at home. But the public can help too – please seek help early if you’re feeling unwell. It’s easier to treat viruses sooner rather than later when they become more severe.”
