The human metapneumovirusalso known as HMPV, is reportedly on the rise in China, raising questions about what the disease is and whether it is a concern for those in the US
Chinese health officials have not confirmed that HMPV is driving hospitals in the country, and recent reports from China Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that the increase may actually be due to influenza A. But with less public knowledge surrounding HMPV in the US, concerns about a new pandemic have risen – although experts say there's no need to panic.
“The worry about a pandemic can be reversed,” Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno, Children's Medical Center Plano's director of disease prevention and control told CBS News, adding that not only is the virus relatively stable, but it's also not a new virus like COVID-19. “This has been circulating for some time, so people have some immunity against this human metapneumovirus.”
What is HMPV?
HMPV is a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory infections in people of all ages. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of serious illness from the virus.
The duration of the illness varies depending on the severity of an individual's case but is similar to other respiratory infections caused by viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms of HMPV
According to the CDC, common symptoms associated with HMPV include:
- Cough
- Fever
- nasal congestion
- Shortness of breath
“Clinical symptoms of HMPV infection can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia and are similar to other viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory infections,” the CDC website notes.
Is HMPV a new virus?
HMPV is not new. It was first discovered in 2001 and is part of the Pneumoviridae family along with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSVAccording to the CDC.
It may have been circulating even earlier – for decades or more than a century, said Garcia Carreno.
In the US, HMPV usually circulates starting in the winter and lasts until or through spring, the CDC says, and it can circulate at the same time as RSV and the flu. during respiratory virus season.
Is HMPV worse than COVID?
Experts say the HMPV outbreak in China is not a major concern – it is not a new, mysterious illness and is not responsible for as many cases as COVID or other diseases even the this season. According to the latest CDC data, HMPV accounts for less than 2% of weekly positive tests of respiratory viruses. In comparison, the flu accounted for nearly 19% and COVID just over 7% for the same week.
For an infection to be considered widespread locally, it must exceed 10% of positive results for two weeks. At 1.9%, Garcia Carreno said it is not close to the numbers of flu, COVID and RSV.
Researchers estimate that about 10% to 12% of respiratory illnesses in children are caused by HMPV, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“Most cases are mild, but about 5% to 16% of children will develop a lower respiratory infection such as pneumonia,” the clinic's website said.
HMPV transmission and prevention
HMPV is transmitted through direct contact with someone who has it or by touching things contaminated with the virus.
“Unfortunately, unlike the flu, RSV and COVID, we don't have a vaccine for human metapneumovirus, so we don't have that advantage of priming or strengthening our immune system to fight against these viruses,” said Garcia Carreno. “But still, everything else we've learned for COVID can apply to methane.”
To prevent illness, take measures similar to the prevention of other respiratory viruses, meaning wash hands with soap and water and avoid close contact with sick people.
“If someone is sick, try to avoid crowds so they don't expose everyone, especially the vulnerable,” Garcia Carreno said. “If that person is sick and they can't go to a place where avoid other people, try to use a mask, use cough and sneeze etiquette and good hand washing.”
