Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has probably been infecting people for centuries
Roger Harris/Science Photo Library
Alarming headlines have dominated the past few days, warning that China may once again be overwhelmed by a mysterious new virus. But the virus, called human metapneumovirus (hMPV), which has been reported to be responsible for a surge in respiratory infections in China, is not actually mysterious or new, and Chinese authorities believe that China’s healthcare system is He denies claims that he had a flat tire.
What is human metapneumovirus?
It is one of a variety of viruses known as cold viruses that infect the cells lining the respiratory tract and cause “cold” symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, cough, and sneezing that last for several days. Sometimes. You almost certainly have an hMPV infection. Antibody studies show that almost all people are infected with hMPV by the age of 5 years. Like influenza, reinfection is possible throughout life as immunity weakens and new variants evolve.
How dangerous is hMPV?
It causes only mild symptoms in most people, but like other cold viruses, it can be more severe and even fatal in some cases. Severe infections usually occur in people who are vulnerable for some reason, such as young children, the elderly, and people with impaired immune systems or conditions such as asthma.
In 2018, the virus is estimated to have killed at least 11,000 children under the age of 5 worldwide. For comparison, another common cold virus called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is estimated to kill 60,000 children worldwide each year.
How long has hMPV been circulating in the population?
It has probably been circulating in the human body for centuries. The virus was first discovered in 2001 in samples taken from Dutch children with respiratory infections. Since then, the virus was detected in archival samples in 1976, and antibodies to the virus were detected in blood samples in the 1950s.
Where did it come from?
Closely related viruses known as avian metapneumoviruses are prevalent in birds, and human metapneumoviruses are thought to have evolved from one of these viruses. However, since it is thought to have originated around 200 years ago, the situation with hMPV is very different from that of the covid-19 virus, which only infected humans at the end of 2019. Although hMPV is currently a human virus, it can infect humans. There are also other animals such as chimpanzees and gorillas.
What kind of virus is it?
It belongs to a group called paramyxoviruses and consists of a single strand of genetic material in the form of RNA wrapped in a protein coat. Other paramyxoviruses include measles and Nipah. The hMPV genome is approximately 13,000 “letters” long and encodes only nine proteins. This means that, like many other respiratory viruses, it has a relatively small and streamlined genome.
Is there a treatment or vaccine for hMPV?
There is no specific treatment or approved vaccine for hMPV infection. However, several potential vaccines are being developed. For example, in 2024 a team at the University of Oxford began testing an mRNA vaccine designed to protect children from both hMPV and RSV.
Why are there so many infected people in China?
It is normal for waves of cold and flu infections to occur during the winter, but for reasons that are not well understood, some years these waves are larger than others. An overall increase in the number of infected people means more people will become seriously ill and more people will be hospitalized. “There is nothing to indicate anything unusual. For now, it looks like a bunch of regular seasonal nuisances are doing it,” wrote Ian McKay of the University of Queensland in Australia, and in 2023. also pointed out that there were similar fears.
How do we know we’re not seeing the beginning of another pandemic?
The covid-19 virus was a new virus and people had no immunity to it. This increased the likelihood that the virus would spread widely and cause serious infections. In contrast, the hMPV variant circulating in China is reported to differ from other hMPVs in only a few mutations, meaning that most people, except young children, already have some level of immunity. means that
There are claims that this new variant is more likely to cause severe infections, but even if this is true, it does not mean it will cause a new pandemic. In fact, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on January 3 that respiratory infections “appear to be less severe and less widespread than in previous years.”
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