The posts are mostly false. Chinese authorities have reported an increase in some respiratory infections, but the increases are in line with seasonal trends and no state of emergency has been declared.

Despite the lack of an official proclamation, social media speculation about a state of emergency has been stoked by reports of a viral outbreak in China, including human metapneumovirus. Due to the possibility of worldwide transmission,

While cases are climbing in China, the situation is very different from what it was when Covid-19 emerged five years ago, medical experts say. HMPV is common and decades old.