Recent social media posts spreading false information about the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) have fueled anti-China rhetoric and unfounded fears of new lockdowns across Asia, despite health experts' assurances that the outbreak remains within normal seasonal ranges.
A wave of misleading content has circulated online, including recycled footage from Covid-19 lockdowns and false claims about deaths and national emergencies in China. The World Health Organization has confirmed that current HMPV cases in China are at expected levels for this season.
"Authors of these posts are trying to scare people," said Philip Mai, co-director of the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. He noted a concerning rise in discriminatory rhetoric unfairly targeting Chinese communities.
Many viral posts have promoted baseless theories, including claims that HMPV and Covid-19 merged into a more dangerous variant. Multiple virologists have dismissed these assertions, explaining that the viruses belong to different families and cannot combine.
Some mainstream media outlets have contributed to public anxiety by publishing sensational headlines describing HMPV as a "mystery illness" overwhelming Chinese hospitals. However, experts emphasize that HMPV is a well-known pathogen that typically causes mild upper respiratory infections and has circulated globally for decades.
The spread of misinformation has triggered hostile comments across Southeast Asia, with some social media users calling for travel restrictions on Chinese citizens. Many posts originated from accounts focused on Indian audiences before spreading to other regions including Africa, Indonesia, and Japan.
"Because of the psychological trauma inflicted by Covid-19, citizens worldwide react anxiously to the possibility of another pandemic emerging from China," explained Isaac Stone Fish, CEO of Strategy Risks. He advised maintaining a balanced approach - being appropriately skeptical of official statements while avoiding discrimination against Chinese people.
Public health experts warn that the current wave of fear-mongering could undermine trust and hamper responses to genuine future health emergencies. The spread of HMPV disinformation highlights ongoing challenges in managing viral misinformation during disease outbreaks.