China battles new 'mystery' virus outbreak five years after Covid pandemic

China is grappling with a surge of respiratory illnesses, notably human metapneumovirus (HMPV), as winter sets in. The outbreak comes five years after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and reports suggest that hospitals and crematories are struggling to cope with the rising number of cases.

Social media posts and online videos depict overcrowded hospitals, while some users claim that multiple viruses, including HMPV, influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and even Covid-19, are circulating simultaneously.