A viral outbreak in China sounds alarmingly familiar to 2019, back in the days before most of us had ever heard of the “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”, better known as Covid-19.

As of this week, 11 cases of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) have been reported in India, raising concerns about its potential to spread. First identified in China, hMPV causes respiratory symptoms similar to those of influenza and COVID-19,

Symptoms of HMPV are similar to that of the common cold and can include a cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, wheezing, shortness of breath and a rash. It can also cause upper and lower respiratory infections.

Cases of HMPV have doubled in the UK since early December with many Brits having been struck down in the country with symptoms similar to those of the common cold

Social media is rampant with reports of a surge of a new respiratory virus in China. Here's what we know about the virus.

How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China?The Independent/ Lumen5

There has been a small rise in cases of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the UK - here's what people can look out for including symptoms and how to get yourself a test