The human metapneumovirus hMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus in the Pneumoviridae family. It was first known in 2001 in the Netherlands and has a close relationship to avian metapneumovirus subgroup C. It spreads via direct contact with infected respiratory secretions or in touch with infectious surfaces. It causes upper respiratory infections such as cough, fever, runny nose, nasal congestion, and sore throat. Most infections are mild and usually take 2-5 days to recover.
Like RSV and influenza, it has annual outbreaks in late winter and early spring, usually 1-2 months after the RSV and flu seasons. Seasonality, which typically runs from October to April, hMPV normally causes 5%–25% of respiratory virus infections in infants and children and 1.5%–10.5% of respiratory infections in adults.
In children, hMPV is estimated to cause 5%–15% of hospital admissions for respiratory tract disease, while in adults, hMPV causes up to 11% of hospital admissions. Adults with underlying heart disease and chronic lung disease or with comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity are particularly at risk. Many viruses that cause respiratory illnesses in humans, like the common cold, may have increased in the last few months because much of the world has been in lockdown for the past two years and many of these viruses are not circulating in the population.
Symptoms
Common symptoms are:
- Cough
- Fever
- Runny Nose
- Nasal Congestion
- Sore Throat
In severe cases, the symptoms are lower respiratory tract like:
Bronchiolitis is most likely to occur in preschool children and younger. Lower respiratory tract disease can be severe to require hospitalization. In addition, it also has associations with ear infections.
Patients with Acute Infection
The most common symptoms in children will be upper respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, cough, and fever. Occasionally, you may see pink eye from hMPV.
Patient with Chronic Infection
In the Chronic case of hMPV virus badly affects the lungs like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may cause worsened symptoms.
Differentiates between hMPV and the common cold
Testing is essential to distinguish between HMPV and the common cold. “For most children and adults, you won’t be able to tell HMPV from a cold without testing.
The virus was tested by taking nasal swab samples from the nose and throat to detect viral genetic material via PCR.
Laboratory tests are essential to differentiate and identify the specific virus involved.
Preventive Measures
Practice hygiene measures, including hand washing.
Wearing a mask.
Maintaining proper distance.
Treatments
There are no specific treatments for HMPV viruses.
Symptomatic care:
Maintain Hydration Status
Fever control by medication and home care.
Boost up immunity with a balanced diet
Severe Cases
Require Hospitalization
Supportive Care Will Be The Primary Treatment
Oxygenation Required
Hydration Status
Who is most at Risk?
Children under 2 years old are most at risk.
Children with underlying diseases such as a history of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, asthma, and weakened immune systems are at risk.
Among adults, patients over 65 years of age with chronic heart or lung disease, including asthma and COPD, or who have compromised immune systems, are at higher risk.
hMPV and China
The increase in HMPV infections in China has gained worldwide media coverage. Viral Photos and videos on social media show busy hospitals, raising fears of another pandemic outbreak. But hMPV usually spreads in the Northern Hemisphere in winter, and the survey in China shows that other common respiratory infections, in which seasonal flu and RSV, have also increased in cases.
Alessandra Pierangeli, PhD, a research scientist and associate professor of microbiology and virology at Sapienza University of Rome, said
In the last pandemic season (2023-2024), respiratory virus circulation, including hMPV, returned to normal pre-COVID patterns, but Pierangeli said more data is required to understand hMPV epidemiology and genetic evolution.
The extent of hMPV disease burden is not properly defined due to a lack of national and global data. As a result, it is difficult to compare current outbreak data in China with past data.