Cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, spiked this spring, according to the CDC's respiratory virus surveillance systems. Here's what to know.
The past winter was a heavy one for respiratory viruses, dominated by surges of RSV, influenza and Covid-19. But just as it was winding down, a little—known virus that causes many of the same symptoms — a lower lung infection, hacking cough, runny nose, sore throat and fever — was just picking up steam.
“I couldn’t get out more than a couple of words,” said Davison, 59, an entertainment lawyer in Baltimore. “I would go into violent, violent coughing to the point where I was literally almost throwing up.” The researchers cultured the samples in various types of cells from monkeys, chickens and dogs, and then they looked at the cultures under an electron microscope. They saw something that seemed structurally related to the paramyxoviridae family, a group of viruses known to give people respiratory disease like measles, mumps and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
“Basically, they could only identify a virus in people about half the time. And so the question was, ‘OK, what about that other half?’ ” he said. Human metapneumovirus doesn’t account for all the unknown viruses, but it’s a significant proportion — about as many cases as RSV or influenza.“Those are the three major viruses,” he said.
The CDC recommends that doctors consider testing for HMPV in the winter and spring, when it tends to peak.
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