In 2018, hMPV was attributed to an estimated 11.1 million cases of acute lower respiratory tract infections, 502 000 hospital admissions, and 11 300 deaths among children ≤5 years of age at global level.
Human metapneumovirus and RSV (hMPV/RSV)
General Information
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) can cause upper and lower respiratory disease in people of all ages, especially among young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
hMPV infection often requires medical attention and is associated with a substantial health care burden in children ≤5 years of age, particularly infants, accounting for 6%–7% of all acute respiratory illness or fever.
Currently, there is no specific antiviral therapy to treat hMPV and no vaccine to prevent hMPV.
Transmission
HMPV is most likely spread from an infected person to others through secretions from coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or touching objects or surfaces that have the viruses present on them.
Symptoms
Symptoms commonly associated with hMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. Clinical symptoms of hMPV infection may progress to bronchitis or pneumonia and are similar to other viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory infections.
Epidemiology
2018
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