Another similarity to COVID: A case of HMPV can last about a week, with symptoms peaking around the third day, Dr. Hoy told us. However, you can still be contagious for several days after you're feeling better and your symptoms subside. This is especially the case for patients with compromised or weakened immune systems.

In China, reports of HMPV infections have indeed been rising in recent weeks in the more northerly regions. But so have reports of all the other respiratory pathogens including seasonal flu, rhinovirus and RSV.

Following a surge in cases overseas, find out more about HMPV including symptoms, how it spreads, UK cases and should we be worried.

In today’s health headlines, the HMPV virus and what you need to know. Plus, wildfire smoke and air quality, and is iodine deficiency an emerging health issue? Dr. Arjun chair of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Medicine joined Good Morning Connecticut at 9 a.

HMPV was discovered by scientists in the Netherlands more than 20 years ago, but has likely been circulating in humans for the last 60 years. It is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to the common cold and flu.