The UK is on high alert as cases of the former “mystery” virus emanating from China have risen sharply in the last week. Earlier this month, China implemented emergency measures as cases of what later turned out to be HMPV virus started to spike across northern Chinese provinces.

Children appeared to be the target demographic for this nasty illness, with social media posts highlighting an overflow of tots in hospitals with the Covid-like symptoms.

Social media posts coming out of the mainland showed photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals, with local reports claiming that these scenes eerily echo the start of the Covid back in late 2019.

As the numbers peaked for those displaying the likes of fever, coughs and sore throats in China, studies suggested that the “mysterious illness” was already ashore the UK – which it was.

And now the latest update from the UK Health Security Agency cases of Human metapneumovirus are on the rise once again.

The latest update states: “Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) positivity increased to 4.9%, with the highest positivity in those aged 80 years and over at 7.3%.”

The report also clarifies that around 7,826 specimens were tested in total, and comes just weeks after Brits were told to “consider wearing a face mask” to stop cases rising.

And Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, also raised concerns on X (formerly Twitter) about the impact winter diseases have on the NHS.

She wrote: “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.

“While I was visiting A&E this week, despite such acute pressures, the compassion and skill displayed by staff was incredible – I know that 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 do 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.

Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “hMPV is a common respiratory infection in winter, and we typically see activity reaching a peak at this time of year. Infections are usually mild, causing symptoms of a common cold. Our surveillance systems in GP surgeries and hospitals indicate that levels are in line with what we would expect to see. Most people have had hMPV by the time they are five years old and catch it again throughout their lives.

“As with all respiratory viruses, you can help reduce infections being passed on through regular handwashing and catching coughs and sneezes in tissues and throwing them away. If you have symptoms such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable. There are many viruses in circulation at the moment, including flu – if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness and you need to go out, our advice continues to be that you should consider wearing a face mask.”