Human metapneumovirus (hMPV)

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was discovered in 2001 by Bernadette G. van den Hoogen and colleagues in the Netherlands. Initially undetected by common testing methods, it was identified through molecular biology techniques, including randomly primed PCR. hMPV was found to be closely related to avian pneumovirus (AMPV), which is reflected in its name.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) 

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a negative-sense RNA virus from the Pneumoviridae family, closely related to avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) subgroup C. It was first identified in 2001 using RNA arbitrarily primed PCR (RAP-PCR). As of 2016, hMPV became the second most common cause, after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), of acute respiratory illnesses in otherwise healthy children under age 5 in a large US outpatient clinic.

Human MetapneumoVirus(HMPV)

• Virus classification

Virus

Realm: Riboviria

Kingdom:

Orthornavirae

Phylum:

Negarnaviricota

Class:

Monjiviricetes

Order:

Mononegavirales

Family:

Pneumoviridae

Genus:

Metapneumovirus

Species:

Metapneumovirus hominis

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) primarily affects infants, with peak hospitalizations occurring between 6 and 12 months, slightly older than RSV's peak at 2 to 3 months. The clinical symptoms and severity of hMPV are similar to RSV. hMPV also significantly impacts older adults and infants, causing respiratory illness in both groups.