Scientists claim to have pinpointed a subtle sign of a flu-like virus that has already caused chaos in China — and it lies in the skin. 

Cases of the infection human metapneumovirus (HMPV) have caused some concern among experts amid rising levels in the UK and US. 

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Scientists are almost certain that symptoms of hMPV will be very mild for the vast majority, resembling a cold.

But, certain vulnerable groups — the elderly, immunocompromised and young children, for instance — may not have an easy time with hMPV. And the resulting complications differ from that of flu. 

Yet, there is one other sign of the condition that also differs from a cold or flu that could indicate people have contracted hMPV. 

Experts say a rash on the skin may be an early sign of infection. 

One 2004 report by Dutch researchers, who analysed more than a dozen surveys and study groups on hMPV, found a rash on the trunk — the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back — was one of the most common signs of the condition. 

There is one other sign of the condition that also differs from a cold or flu that could indicate people have contracted hMPV. Experts say a rash on the skin may be an early sign of infection

Another 2013 US study published in Pediatrics in Review, found that ‘between 5 and 10 per cent of children develop a rash during the infection.’

A third in 2016 by Italian scientists also listed ‘febrile seizures, rash, diarrhea and vomiting’ as common signs. 

Other typical hMPV signs include symptoms similar to the common cold, such as a runny nose or nasal congestion, a sore throat and fever that clears after around five days.   

More severe symptoms such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which usually affect those with compromised immune systems, can occur, with sufferers experiencing a shortness of breath, severe cough or wheezing. 

Professor John Tregoning, an expert in vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, said when hMPV infects children it looks similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common winter bug that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

‘It is part of the cocktail of winter viruses that we are exposed to and, like other viruses, it will transmit in coughs, sneezes and in droplets,’ he said. 

Similar to the advice related to Covid and RSV, those infected must ‘rest, stay hydrated and try not to spread it to others’, he added. 

Professor Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health Services in Brisbane, also said: ‘It certainly can and does cause severe disease, that’s why I think it’s important that people know it’s out there.’

Scenes of hospitals overrun with people in face masks have made their rounds on social media. Pictured, A baby wearing a face mask waits with family members at the pediatric department of a hospital in Hangzhou, eastern China on January 6

Experts have cautioned that hMPV, which produces flu-like symptoms, can lurk in the body for days and so it can be easily passed on to others

‘The challenge is at the moment there’s not much we can do except educate people [that] it’s around to reduce transmission. 

‘There’s no vaccine or antivirals, although there are some vaccines in development.’

Often patients aren’t tested for hMPV unless in hospital, where doctors might need to clarify what is causing your symptoms.

This is done via rapid antigen tests — where a nasal swab is examined — or a PCR test, which looks for traces of genetic material from the virus in nasal swabs.

The surge in hPMV in the UK is mostly affecting young children — who are among the most vulnerable to serious complications, official data suggests. 

Virus monitoring data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that one in 10 children tested for respiratory infections in hospital were positive for hMPV as of December 23. 

This is more than double the proportion of very young children that tested positive for hMPV in late November.

However, experts have repeatedly warned that case numbers are what is expected for this time of year. 

Graphic shows the common symptoms (green tick), occasional and possible symptoms (orange circle) and the symptoms that never occur (red cross) with the common cold, flu and Covid

It comes as Britain is currently battling its own separate tidal wave of flu. 

Surveillance data that monitors England’s flu outbreak also suggests hospital admissions are up a fifth in a week and nearly five times the level recorded in early December. 

Figures show more than 5,400 beds alone were taken up by flu patients every day last week, up 3.5 times on the same week last year.

Of these, 254 were in critical care — up a fifth on the previous week. 

The virus is one of the ‘quademic’ of winter viruses heaping pressure on NHS services alongside noroviruses, RSV and Covid. 

Typically symptoms appear around one to four days after exposure to the virus, and they last up to a week. But side effects including fatigue may linger for weeks.