A mysterious viral infection is spreading in China, with hospitals reportedly overwhelmed by patients, reminiscent of the early COVID-19 outbreak. Social media videos depict crowded pediatric wards and long lines at crematoriums. Local reports suggest the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is the cause, but this remains unconfirmed. The rise in infections is linked to weakened immunity in children after strict lockdowns. China’s CDC reported significant increases in flu-like illnesses, with outpatient visits at the highest levels since 2021. Eyewitnesses describe alarming scenes in hospitals and long waits for cremation, indicating a severe health crisis in the region.
A mysterious viral infection is spreading in China, and some hospitals are reportedly suffering damage.
Videos on social media appear to show hospital wards filled with masked patients and parents with sick children in long lines in pediatric wards.
There are also unconfirmed reports of crematoriums and funeral homes being overwhelmed.
The alarming scenes and lack of official comment have led some to draw similarities to the early days of the coronavirus outbreak in China.
Local news reports say the outbreak is caused by a little-known virus called human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which usually causes a mild cold-like illness, but authorities say I haven’t confirmed this.
The situation is similar to the winter of 2022/23, when China was hit by a wave of mycoplasma pneumonia cases known as “white lung”, although the symptoms are usually mild.
This spread of infections is thought to be due to the weakening of children’s natural immunity due to China’s strict lockdown and school closure measures aimed at containing the new coronavirus.
However, an official report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that regular influenza has been at the forefront of recent outbreaks, with 30% of tests testing positive for influenza and severe respiratory illness. One in seven people hospitalized with the disease have tested positive for influenza.
Above is an excerpt from a video posted online that claims to show hospitals in China being overwhelmed.
The Chinese government and the World Health Organization have not yet publicly addressed the video, which has been widely circulated on social media.
However, China’s CDC has warned that the incidence of multiple flu-like illnesses is rising.
In the latest report, data for the week ending Dec. 29 showed that 7.2% of outpatient visits at local hospitals in the northern region were due to influenza-like illnesses.
This was a 12% increase from the previous week and exceeded the same week’s levels for every flu season since 2021.
Data from the southern part of the country showed that 5.7% of outpatient visits were due to influenza-like illnesses.
This is a 21% increase from the previous week and also exceeds the same week in 2021, when hospital visits due to flu-like illnesses were 4.1%. However, it was below the levels in 2022 and 2023.
Northern states: The graph above shows the percentage of hospital visits for flu-like illness in northern states by week. The red line is from the 2024-2025 flu season, showing that levels are the highest since 2021
Southern states: The above shows the year-over-year change in outpatient visits due to influenza-like illness in the southern states. The red line is for the 2024-2025 influenza season
Videos purporting to show hospitals in China becoming overcrowded began appearing online around New Year’s Eve.
They claim to be referring hospitals in Hunan, a province in the central part of the country, and other regions.
Abolwan News, a US-based news provider covering China, published a quote from a Hunan farmer, also known as Mr. Peng, who said he was caught up in the rush to hospitals.
“A lot of people have colds; [illness]” he said in a quote translated into English.
“We’ve had about seven or eight people die in this area this week. We’ve had people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, some in their 40s.
The website also includes a quote from a funeral home called Mr. Wang, where he said there were long lines at the crematorium.
“Currently, there are long lines for cremation,” she said in a translated quote. “Today, three VIP furnaces were opened.
“They were all on fire and emitting a lot of smoke. It was horrible. People who don’t know about crematoriums think they sell New Year’s goods like they have a fair during Lunar New Year. I guess.”
Above is a clip of a video that claims to show a hospital in China being overwhelmed.
A hospital ward in China is crammed with young patients sitting with their parents receiving intravenous fluids. Photos from social media claiming hospitals are overwhelmed
Dozens of patients appear to be lining up for treatment. Photos taken from social media
In another case, a Chinese video blogger named “Please Fei Ge” said he and his wife fell ill after traveling to Guangzhou for an event.
After returning to their home state, both men, whose names have not been released, developed fevers, body aches and headaches and were isolated from their children for three days to prevent infection.
He is reported to have said, “This feeling is exactly the same as when I received “Yang” back then.” It’s very unpleasant. If you still feel that way, wear a mask when you go out to crowded places. ”
Last year, alarm was raised in China over a spike in mysterious pneumonia cases among children, with videos posted online showing crowds of masked people crowding into a Beijing hospital.
Chinese officials said at the time that the spread of infections was not caused by the new virus, but by a resurgence of the disease after the lockdown was lifted.
