China’s Metapneumovirus Threatens Japan After Spring Festival

The second coronavirus spreading in China

Japan is on the brink of being struck by the second coronavirus.

Five years have passed since the novel coronavirus was first reported in China in December 2019, and now another infectious disease is sweeping through China—human metapneumovirus. Dr. Kamimasa Hiroshi, the chairman of the Institute of Medical Governance, speaks about this.

“It was discovered in the Netherlands in 2001 and is a virus that causes respiratory infections. It causes symptoms such as fever, cough, and fatigue. When young children or the elderly with weakened immune systems become infected, it can lead to serious conditions. In the past, there have been cases of pneumonia or other infections that resulted in death.”

Although the exact number of cases is unknown, according to the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the spread of human metapneumovirus began in November last year. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients suffering from high fevers and severe coughing. Due to a shortage of hospital rooms, beds are lined up in the hallways, and patients who have difficulty walking are overflowing

Japan is on the brink of collapse due to influenza

A virus that is overwhelming China’s healthcare system is expected to spread to Japan soon. During the Lunar New Year holiday starting on January 28, a record-breaking 9 billion people are expected to travel, with over 720,000 Chinese tourists projected to visit Japan. Dr. Mikihiro Kihara, a former physician at the Mayo Clinic in the U.S., shares his thoughts.

“Naturally, infected individuals who are in the incubation period (3 to 6 days) will enter Japan from China. Even though the number of infected individuals increases, there are no treatments or vaccines for human metapneumovirus, so we will have to rely on symptomatic treatments and natural recovery.”

Currently, Japan’s healthcare system is already struggling with an influenza outbreak. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, there were 172,417 reported cases across the country during the week ending on January 12. The number of cases has reached a record high since 1999 when statistics began, with more than 30 patients per medical facility for four consecutive weeks, reaching warning levels. Dr. Kamimasa Hiroshi explains further:

“People who have contracted the novel coronavirus have a weakened immune system, not only against influenza but also against various pathogens. As the number of patients increases, healthcare facilities are in a difficult situation, with patients being shuffled around. In one clinic I work at in Saitama Prefecture, the administrative staff are lamenting that nearby hospitals are full, so we’re sending patients to a medical facility 30-40 minutes away by train.”

With influenza already spreading rapidly, Japan’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. And if human metapneumovirus arrives from China. Dr. Kihara foresees a terrifying situation:

“Even now, we don’t have enough test kits or medications, and there’s a panic situation where we can’t treat influenza patients. We’ve run out of backup test kits. If large numbers of human metapneumovirus patients start arriving, we won’t be able to handle it. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has not established a system to track and respond to the number of human metapneumovirus cases. If the virus mutates and the chances of severe illness increase, what will we do? At the moment, the healthcare system won’t be able to handle it.”

With a shortage of hospital beds, there may be a recurrence of the coronavirus nightmare, where patients are isolated in hotels.

From the February 7, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”