UK on high alert as 'mystery illness' hits with Brits told 'consider wearing face masks'

A general image of women wearing face masks
-Credit:Dan Kitwood/Getty Images


The UK is said to be on high alert amid cases of a virus which was previously dubbed a 'mystery'. Cases of HMPV have surged in the past week in China.

The county had to enact emergency measures when outbreaks of the virus began to soar through its northern regions. Hospitals were evidently overwhelmed with young patients as social media images depicted wards flooded with children afflicted by the severe sickness bearing similarities to Covid symptoms.

Symptoms include fever, cough and a sore throats. The UK Health and Security Agency confirmed human metapneumovirus (HMPV) incidences were climbing once more, with its latest report noting: "Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) positivity increased to 4.9 per cent, with the highest positivity in those aged 80 and over at 7.3 per cent."

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Around 7,826 specimens were tested and British residents were told to "consider wearing a face mask" to prevent cases rising. Amanda Pritchard, NHS England's chief executive, voiced her concern about the strain winter ailments placed on the NHS services, Daily Star reports.

Writing on social media, she said: "It is difficult to put into words just how tough it is for our frontline staff at the moment. We are really worried about the toll that flu and other viruses are taking on our patients and on services across the NHS.

"Not only are staff managing high levels of A&E attendances and ambulance calls, they are also caring for really sick people who have been admitted and need specialist care.

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"While I was visiting A&E this week, despite such acute pressures, the compassion and skill displayed by staff was incredible - I know this is the case up and down the country. We have plans in place to manage extra demand – we use critical incidents to manage and monitor pressures, we have more beds than we did last year and we have new ways of working which ensure people can get cared for at home.

"But the public can play their part too - please seek help when you need it. We would rather see you sooner when viruses are easier to treat, than later when it is more difficult."

According to Public Health Scotland: "Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a recently-recognised virus from the paramyxovirus family, of which respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also a member. It was discovered by Dutch scientists in 2001 and is known to cause upper and lower respiratory disease.

"HMPV typically causes symptoms similar to the common cold but more severe symptoms such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia can occur, especially in:

  • children

  • older adults

  • immunocompromised individuals

"Most children will have been infected with HMPV by the time they are five. HMPV follows an annual seasonal pattern like influenza and RSV, and typically peaks in the winter or early spring."