Following the Flu, Now 'Metapneumo Virus'... Anxiety Among Parents of Infants and Toddlers

Flu Cases Increase by 45% in One Week... Concerns Over 'Multidemic' with Various Respiratory Viruses
Metapneumovirus Spreads Mainly Among Immunocompromised Infants and Young Children

Following the influenza epidemic advisory, the 'Metapneumovirus' is rapidly spreading, especially among infants and young children. The photo shows a child receiving an influenza vaccination at a pediatric clinic in Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] Recently, as the number of suspected influenza (flu) patients increases, new respiratory infectious diseases such as human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are spreading mainly among infants and young children. Consequently, concerns are emerging that a so-called "multidemic," where COVID-19 and various respiratory infectious diseases spread simultaneously, could become a reality.

Suspected flu patients refer to those who have a sudden fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher along with symptoms such as cough or sore throat, and such cases have been steadily increasing.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's "Infectious Disease Sentinel Surveillance Weekly Newsletter" on the 11th, among outpatients visiting medical institutions in the 40th week of this year (September 25 to October 1), the number of suspected flu patients was 7.1 per 1,000 people. This is a 44.9% increase compared to 4.9 per 1,000 people in the previous week (September 18 to September 24).

In particular, the flu is spreading rapidly among infants and young children. The proportion of suspected flu patients in the 1 to 6-year-old age group is 12.1, which is 2.47 times the epidemic threshold. The numbers were 6.3 in the 36th week, 6.5 in the 27th week, and 6 in the 38th week, then increased to 7.9 in the 39th week, and rose by 52.2% compared to the previous week in the 40th week.

Respiratory infectious diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, metapneumovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus are spreading, raising concerns especially among young children with weak immune systems who live in group settings at daycare centers. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

In addition, the number of patients with the seasonal respiratory virus "metapneumo" has also increased sharply. In the 40th week, there were 940 patients with viral acute respiratory infections, up from 896 the previous week, and among them, human metapneumovirus, which had no cases during the same period last year, accounted for 296 cases, or 31.5%.

Human metapneumovirus is a seasonal respiratory virus mainly transmitted to infants aged 6 to 12 months. It causes respiratory symptoms similar to a cold, such as cough and fever, but it can also cause acute otitis media, conjunctivitis, asthma, and can progress to pneumonia, making it dangerous. As various respiratory infectious diseases spread among infants and young children, some voices are calling for discussions on lifting indoor mask mandates to be postponed until after next spring.

Experts view the transmission pattern of human metapneumovirus as unusual. Similar to the flu, respiratory infectious disease viruses were suppressed during the COVID-19 social distancing measures over the past two years, so many infants and young children lack immunity, leading to a faster spread.

Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "There was generally no viral epidemic due to social distancing and quarantine guidelines, but recently, with the easing of quarantine measures, various respiratory viruses are re-emerging." He added, "Metapneumovirus infects many children because their immune systems are immature and they live collectively in daycare centers. However, it is not limited to infants and young children; adults and the elderly are also getting infected."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.