10th January 2025 – (Beijing) Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded on Friday to concerns regarding a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in China, emphasising that the scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases this year are lower than during the same period last year. He characterised the portrayal of common viruses as “unknown viruses” as alarmist and contrary to scientific understanding.
Guo addressed these issues during a regular press briefing, noting that winter typically sees a peak in respiratory infections in the Northern Hemisphere, with influenza being one of the prevalent pathogens. He stated, “Currently, the scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China are lower than those of the same period last year.”
Concerning the HMPV infection, Guo clarified that it is not a new strain and has been present in human society for over 60 years, causing upper respiratory infections. He described HMPV infections as self-limiting and reiterated that depicting common viruses as “unknown” contradicts established scientific knowledge.
The spokesperson highlighted that the Chinese government prioritises the health of both its citizens and foreign nationals residing in China. He noted that relevant authorities and technical institutions have been actively conducting sentinel surveillance for acute respiratory diseases and have made these monitoring results publicly available.
Guo also pointed out that public health experts have consistently recommended scientific protective measures, and China has maintained close communication with the World Health Organization (WHO), promptly sharing information regarding respiratory diseases.
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