HMPV Misinformation Sparks Unfounded Panic: Experts Debunk ‘Cross-Mutation’ with COVID-19
A wave of misinformation concerning the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a common respiratory virus, has swept across social media platforms, triggering unwarranted alarm and confusion. False claims alleging that HMPV has "cross-mutated" with COVID-19, resulting in a more severe and dangerous illness, have proliferated online, garnering tens of thousands of shares. These claims, however, are entirely baseless, as confirmed by multiple virology experts. HMPV and SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, belong to distinct viral families with fundamentally different biological characteristics, making a merger or cross-mutation impossible. The World Health Organization (WHO) has further clarified that the reported levels of acute respiratory infections in China, including HMPV, are consistent with typical winter season trends.
The misinformation campaign gained traction through posts on various social media platforms, including a widely shared Facebook post in Thai language that falsely declared a state of emergency in India due to the alleged "cross-mutated" virus. This post, shared over 30,000 times, falsely claimed that the mutated virus causes severe pneumonia and is spreading rapidly in several cities, including Hong Kong. The post sparked a flurry of anxious comments, with some expressing extreme fear and others speculating about dire consequences. This instance highlights the rapid spread and potential impact of misinformation, particularly within the context of public health.
Contrary to the sensationalized online narratives, HMPV is a well-known virus that has been circulating globally for decades. It typically causes mild upper respiratory tract infections, similar to the common cold. Due to its long-standing presence, most individuals possess some level of immunity against HMPV, reducing the risk of severe illness. This stands in stark contrast to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019, which, being a novel virus at the time, caught the global population unprepared and lacking immunity, resulting in a significantly higher risk of severe disease and widespread pandemic.
Leading virologists have unequivocally dismissed the possibility of a cross-mutation between HMPV and COVID-19. Professor Dongyan Jin from the University of Hong Kong emphasized the independent evolution of these two distinct viruses, while Dr. Siddharth Sridhar, a clinical virologist from the same university, highlighted their fundamental biological differences, stating that a merger is simply impossible. Dr. Sridhar further reassured the public that the majority of HMPV infections are mild and self-limiting, requiring only home care. Similar to COVID-19, however, vulnerable populations like the elderly may experience more severe symptoms. Kamol Suwannakarn, an assistant professor at Mahidol University in Thailand, added that any hypothetical cross-mutation would render the virus non-viable, as it would lose essential viral proteins necessary for survival and reproduction.
The WHO’s January 7, 2025 report confirmed that China’s reported levels of acute respiratory infections, including HMPV, fall within the expected range for the winter season, with no unusual outbreak patterns observed. This reinforces the fact that the current situation is not an unprecedented crisis. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s surveillance report further corroborated this, revealing the circulation of multiple respiratory viruses, including influenza, HMPV, adenovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumonia – a common occurrence during winter months. Importantly, there are no official reports corroborating the claim of a state of emergency declared in India over HMPV cases.
India’s Health Minister, JP Nadda, addressed public concerns in a Facebook post on January 6, 2025, acknowledging the monitoring of HMPV cases in China while reassuring the public that there is no cause for alarm. He reiterated that the virus is more prevalent during the winter and early spring months. This official statement, combined with the expert opinions and data from reputable health organizations, underscores the unfounded nature of the online panic and emphasizes the importance of relying on credible sources of information. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of misinformation and the need for critical evaluation of information circulating online, particularly in matters of public health.