Surge in Metapneumovirus Infections, Hospitals Overwhelmed | China Truths

Welcome to China Truths. In this episode, we will bring you the following stories. Surge in Human Metamemovirus Infections, Particularly Among Children Wang Huning issues four directives on Taiwan, Xi Jinping criticizes Wang. Now, let's dive into the details. It's all covered in today's China Truths. Surge in Human Metamemovirus Infections, Particularly Among Children Since the onset of winter, China has witnessed a widespread outbreak of human metamemovirus, or H.M.P.V., infections, particularly affecting children. Symptoms of this virus closely resemble those of influenza and COVID-19. Residents in Shaanxi province revealed that local hospitals are overwhelmed with young patients suffering from H.M.P.V. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, C.C.D.C., recently reported a continued rise in acute respiratory infections across the country. Among these, H.M.P.V. cases are steadily increasing, with a significant spike in pediatric infections. Like influenza and COVID-19, symptoms include fever, cough, and nasal discharge, but no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is currently available for H.M.P.V. In children aged 14 and below, the H.M.P.V. positivity rate has shown a fluctuating upward trend, particularly in northern provinces. Dr. Yuan Shuhua, Associate Chief Physician of the Respiratory Department at the Shanghai Children's Medical Center, noted that the incubation period for H.M.P.V. is three to six days. Symptoms mimic influenza but often manifest as cold-like signs such as fever, cough, and runny nose. In contrast, influenza typically causes higher fever and generalized fatigue. Dr. Yuan emphasized that H.M.P.V. is a common pathogen causing respiratory infections across all age groups. However, infants, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms. Specifically, children under 5 and adults over 65 have a greater likelihood of severe infections. Data indicates that approximately 6% of children with H.M.P.V.-related pneumonia progress to severe cases. In older adults, H.M.P.V. can cause symptoms typical of respiratory viral infections, such as fatigue, appetite loss, and increased instability, including falls, necessitating heightened vigilance. On December 26, Misli, a resident of Xinyang, Shaanxi, said that the outbreak is severe and many locals are experiencing fever and colds. Hospitals are overcrowded, especially with children. She recounted a neighbor's experience. Her grandson, who is under 10 and attends elementary school, developed a fever. When they went to the The schools haven't suspended classes yet. Misli added, Many children in the neighborhood are falling sick with fever and colds. People are saying this wave is heavily impacting kids, and the main symptoms are fever and coughing. I suspect it's not influenza but another severe outbreak. She further mentioned, A police officer I know said even lian hua ching wen, a traditional Chinese medicine used for respiratory illnesses, is out of stock. The officer had been down with influenza recently and missed over a week of work. Another officer experienced sudden dizziness last week and had to call 120 emergency services. He was hospitalized for a week, though the exact illness wasn't identified. Mr. Yang from Zhouxi County, Xi'an, also reported a serious outbreak. The new virus seems highly contagious, infecting both adults and children. Hospitals are packed, mostly with children. Infections last about a week, and symptoms resemble those of regular influenza. Some cases involve influenza combined with COVID-19. Professor Chou Minghui, a toxicologist from Taiwan, explained in a Facebook post that HMPV is commonly spread through droplets and contact transmission. He advised wearing masks and Professor Chou noted alarming claims of a 43% fatality rate in certain infected populations, though the accuracy of this figure is unverified. A 2020 study published in the Lancet Global Health estimated that in 2018, over 14 million children under five contracted HMPV globally, with over 600,000 hospitalizations and more than 16,000 deaths. The estimated mortality rate was approximately 0.1%. Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection highlighted that HMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus that can cause acute respiratory infections in people of all ages. Wang Huning issues four directives on Taiwan. Xi Jinping criticizes Wang. On December 20, 2024, Taiwan's legislative yuan, led by an alliance between the Kuomintang, KMT, or Blue, and the Taiwan People's Party, TPP, or White, passed the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, Constitutional Litigation Act, and Fiscal Revenue and Expenditure Allocation Act in a third reading, sparking controversy. Yuan Hongbing, an Australia-based scholar focused on cross-strait issues, said that Wang Huning, the CCP's top official overseeing Taiwan affairs, issued four directives to Taiwan-related agencies per Xi Jinping's instructions. Yuan Hongbing recently said that the forced passage of the three bills in Taiwan's legislative yuan has triggered a major constitutional crisis in Taiwan, which he claims has hidden motives behind it. According to Yuan, information was recently relayed by conscientious individuals within the CCP who risked their lives to expose internal dynamics. In mid-to-late November 2024, Wang Huning, a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, CPPCC, issued four directives to the Taiwan Affairs Office, TAO, and the Central Taiwan Affairs Office based on Xi Jinping's so-called important remarks. In the CCP system, Xi Jinping is the head of the Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, with Wang Huning as the sole deputy head and Wang Yi, who also serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, as Secretary General. The Central Taiwan Affairs Office and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office operate as a single entity with dual titles. According to Yuan, the four directives issued by Wang Huning are as follows. Directive 1, Wang stated that the judicial investigation and arrest of Kou Wenjie in Taiwan represented a significant loss for the CCP's United Front efforts. This incident, he noted, highlights weaknesses in the Central Taiwan Affairs Office's work and its ability to protect United Front allies, a matter that Xi Jinping harshly criticized. Directive 2, Wang called for a strong counterattack within Taiwan's legislative Yuan, mobilizing pro-unification and patriotic energies to counteract the failure of the Kou Wenjie incident. This counterattack, Wang said, should surpass the scale of the May 28 passage of the National Parliament Reform Act. The CCP aims to demonstrate its political influence and claim control over Taiwan's legislative body through this operation. Directive 3, Wang directed the Central Taiwan Affairs Office and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office to prioritize fostering belief among pro-unification forces in Taiwan. The message, while no timeline for unification has been set, the process will accelerate. He also instructed that the Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party be informed that they should not plan for the 2028 Taiwan elections, as the CCP will not allow another election that benefits the Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, or pro-independence forces. Directive 4, Wang ordered the two Taiwan Affairs Offices to assure pro-unification forces in Taiwan that the mainland is their strong backing. They must act with greater courage and confidence in anti-independence and pro-unification activities, showing stronger fighting spirit despite suppression. Wang further promised that after unification, any acts of retribution by pro-independence forces against pro-unification individuals would be punished, and their contributions to unification would be recognized and rewarded. Yuan Hongbing noted that Taiwan's legislative Yuan chaos aligns with Wang Huining's directives, particularly the third directive, which indirectly outlines a timeline for military unification. He remarked, The competition among the DPP, KMT, and TPP is no longer a normal democratic rivalry or rule-of-law competition. The CCP's political agents have infiltrated Taiwan's legislative Yuan, effectively controlling its legislative authority. Through control of legislative powers, the CCP aims to disrupt Taiwan's constitutional system, paralyze the DPP-led executive branch, and destabilize Taiwan's judicial and supervisory systems, thereby sowing chaos in Taiwanese society. This is an extremely severe challenge facing Taiwan, Yuan emphasized. Taiwanese must realize that their competition with the KMT is not a normal democratic rivalry but a direct confrontation with CCP authoritarianism, with the legislative Yuan as the battleground. Yuan concluded, The CCP has not abandoned its strategy of resolving the Taiwan issue through a combination of military force and internal chaos before 2027. Xi Jinping has maintained the 2025-2027 window to address the Taiwan issue. Yuan also revealed that prior to the U.S. election results, a think tank led by Wang Yi and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs misled Xi Jinping with reports claiming that regardless of the outcome, the U.S. would experience severe social unrest, political division, and ethnic tensions. However, after the election results, these predictions prove false, with a smooth power transition expected. Information in Beijing suggests that Xi Jinping erupted in anger and harshly criticized Wang Yi. It was reportedly a severe rubbermand, Yuan said. But after Qin Gang's downfall, Xi is politically isolated and has no younger, trustworthy candidate to replace Wang Yi as foreign minister. Despite his dissatisfaction, she has no choice but to keep Wang Yi in the role. That's all for this episode. Thank you for watching, and we'll see you next time.