HMPV virus – latest: Cases begin rising across parts of world after outbreak in China

Like most common respiratory illnesses, HMPV usually clears up on its own.

Treatment of symptoms is usually in the form of medications to control pain and fever, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol

Patients with more severe wheezing and coughing may require a temporary inhaler, according to the American Lung Association.

In most cases, HMPV symptoms are mild and will fade in a week. Those who are otherwise healthy and only experiencing mild conditions are unlikely to need to visit a GP.

However, people who are in higher risk categories may wish to visit their GP to be safe. A trip may also be advisable for those experiencing severe and persistent HMPV-like symptoms. They will be able to diagnose you and provide a test if necessary.

My colleague Albert Toth reports:

HMPV is commonly spread from person to person through close contact with someone who is infected, according to the American Lung Association

Coughing and sneezing or touching objects such as toys or doorknobs that have the virus on them can spread the illness.

It is more likely to circulate during the winter and spring months when other similar infections, such as RSV and the flu, are prevalent.

Researchers in the Netherlands discovered the virus in 2001.

Scientists collected 28 samples from children in the Netherlands who had unexplained respiratory illnesses. 

No recognised illnesses were detected in their blood, despite the fact that a number of them had severe illnessess and required mechanical breathing.

Before being viewed under an electron microscope, the samples were grown in several cell types from dogs, chickens, and monkeys. 

They noticed something that seemed to be structurally similar to viruses in the paramyxoviridae family, which are responsible for respiratory diseases like respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, measles, and mumps.

A detailed examination of the virus’s genome revealed a close relative in the form of the bird-infecting avian metapneumovirus. The novel pathogen was given the name human metapneumovirus. It had probably evolved from birds to humans at some point, according to scientists.

The spike in cases coincides with colder weather and increased indoor activity, conditions that typically fuel the spread of respiratory viruses. Health officials emphasize that this surge is consistent with seasonal trends.

China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration recently reported an increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV, during the winter. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not flagged the situation as a global health emergency, but the rise in cases has prompted authorities to bolster monitoring systems.

A pilot programme has been launched to track pneumonia of unknown origin, ensuring labs and health agencies report and manage cases more effectively, state broadcaster CCTV reported, quoting an administration official at a news conference.

Jill Carr, a virologist in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, Australia, said the situation is “very different to the Covid-19 pandemic”.

She told Politico: “The virus [Covid-19] was completely new in humans and arose from a spill-over from animals and spread to pandemic levels because there was no prior exposures or protective immunity in the community.”

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) weekly National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report found that rates of HMPV have increased slightly to 4.5 per cent.

The highest positive rate was among those five-years-old and younger at 10 per cent.

UKHSA said data for this week’s report should be “interpreted with caution in the light of changes in patterns of healthcare use, social mixing and lagged reporting due to the Christmas holidays.”

The agency added that HMPV is a respiratory illness the UK sees every year, and cases usually rise in the winter.