The rising cases of common respiratory diseases in China and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere are within the expected range for winter, with no unusual outbreaks reported, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced.

Reports of a surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a common respiratory infection, in China have made headlines across global media, with reports of overcrowded hospitals bringing to mind the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic just over five years ago.

However, the WHO stated in a press release issued on Tuesday evening that it is in contact with Chinese health officials and has not received any reports of unusual outbreak patterns there. The Chinese authorities also informed the UN health agency that the healthcare system has not been overwhelmed and that no urgent response has been required.

The WHO reports that, according to Chinese data until December 29, cases of hMPV, seasonal flu, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have increased in recent weeks, particularly in northern regions of China. Currently, influenza is the most commonly reported cause of illness.

“The observed increase in acute respiratory infections and associated pathogens in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere in recent weeks is expected at this time of year and is not unusual,” according to the WHO.

hMPV causes cold-like symptoms for a few days but can, in rare cases, lead to hospitalization for very young, elderly, or vulnerable individuals. Unlike the virus that caused COVID-19, which was a novel virus, hMPV was first identified in 2001 and is likely to have been circulating for much longer, scientists said.

A number of other countries, including India and the United Kingdom, have also reported an increasing number of hMPV cases this winter, as well as other respiratory infections, according to seasonal trends that can sometimes place pressure on hospitals.

“Almost every child will have at least one hMPV infection by their fifth birthday,” said Paul Hunter, Professor of Medicine at the University of East Anglia in the UK. Countries have also improved in diagnosing the disease, he said, which could be a factor in the increasing rates.

“Overall, I don’t think there’s any indication of a more serious global issue at the moment,” he said.