News of a respiratory virus spreading in China and footage of crowded hospitals has predictably led to panic among the people of the world, who are concerned that the human metapneumovirus (HMPV)

Public health advice for HMPV is similar to that for flu, said John Tregoning, professor in vaccine immunology at Imperial College London. "Protecting yourself by being in well-ventilated (spaces), covering your mouth when you cough (and) washing your hands will all help," he said.

China is currently battling an outbreak of HMPV, a virus that causes cold-like symptoms, after it was detected in the city of Xian on December 16 last year.