As human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases continue to rise, the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked for the reintroduction of limitations put in place during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Although China’s hospitals are overflowing with confirmed instances of this respiratory disease, the UK is also seeing an increase in infections, leaving other countries unsure of how to respond.

Now, the Geneva-based group is calling for the return of three crucial population-protection strategies: mask wearing, isolation, and handwashing.

A spokesperson stated: “WHO recommends that individuals in areas where it is winter take normal precautions to prevent the spread and reduce risks posed by respiratory pathogens, especially to the most vulnerable.”

They also recommended that individuals wear a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their bent elbow, wash hands regularly, and follow the vaccination guidance provided by their physician and local public health authorities.