As reports of a new virus outbreak circulate, here is everything you need to know about human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

Summary

Reports suggest a possible outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, though officials have not confirmed this.

Chinese CDC data indicates influenza is leading the rise in flu-like illnesses, with HMPV accounting for 6.2% of respiratory illness cases and 5.4% of hospitalizations.

HMPV, related to RSV, spreads through respiratory droplets, contact, or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include cough, fever, and in severe cases, pneumonia.

While no vaccine exists, preventive measures mirror those for the flu.

  • @[email protected]English
    9•6 days ago

    …this is a virus that already circulates among populations in China, the U.S. and elsewhere, so there is more herd immunity against it than there would be against a novel virus, such as COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic.

    Everyone’s probably already caught it, and it doesn’t seem to be as deadly as COVID-19 was.