Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus belonging to the Pneumoviridae family. It primarily infects the upper and lower respiratory tracts and is one of the leading causes of respiratory illnesses in people of all age groups.
First identified in the Netherlands in 2001, HMPV spreads through direct contact between people, or when someone touches a contaminated surface. The virus leads to a mild upper respiratory tract infection for most people.
It is usually almost indistinguishable from flu. Symptoms for most people include a cough, a fever and blocked nose.The very young, including children under two, are most vulnerable to the virus. It also poses a greater risk to those with weakened immune systems, including the elderly and those with advanced cancer, according to Hsu Li Yang, an infectious diseases specialist in Singapore.
HMPV has been recognized as an essential universal public....
