00:00There's a flu-like virus on the rise in China and other parts of Asia,
00:03and it's beginning to raise concern amongst those still reeling after the COVID pandemic.
00:08It's called Human Metapneumovirus, or HMPV, and it's a respiratory illness,
00:13which affects millions of individuals every year. The virus enters the body through the
00:17nose, mouth, and eyes, causing symptoms ranging from a cough, fever, and nasal congestion,
00:22to wheezing, shortness of breath, and sore throat. The disease is usually not deadly,
00:26and those who can track the virus typically get better in around a week,
00:29though the recent uptick in cases has raised concerns amongst many. In particular,
00:33cases have risen amongst kids aged 14 and under in China. The spike has also prompted China's
00:39National Disease Control and Prevention Administration to initiate a program to
00:43monitor pneumonia of unknown origin. Recently, the World Health Organization said the surge
00:47in December is typical, but cases across the world are troubling. In the UK in particular,
00:524.5% of lab results were positive for the virus, nearly twice the percentage of the still
00:58prevalent COVID-19. Still, HMPV is a common seasonal illness, which is only a real concern
01:04amongst infants and the immunocompromised.
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