 |
|
|
|
General Information | Clinical Symptoms | Epidemiology Human Metapneumovirus - General Information The human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was first described in June 2001 (Nature Medicine Vol 7: P719-724), but has been present in the human population for at least 50 years. HMPV belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family of viruses, which includes several well known human pathogens such as measles virus, mumps virus, parainfluenza viruses and the human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV). Based on its genetic sequence and structure, hMPV falls in the Pneumovirinae sub-family, together with its closest known human-infecting relative, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). However, hMPV's genetic sequence and structure differs sufficiently from that of RSV for it to be placed in a separate genus to RSV - the Metapneumoviruses HMPV infects people of
all ages and causes mild to severe respiratory infections. By
the age of 5, most children have been infected with hMPV at
least once. Severe disease requiring hospitalisation occurs
primarily in young children, the elderly and the immunocompromised.
HMPV's clinical impact and epidemiology is very similar to that
of RSV and infection by these two viruses cannot be distinguished
on the bases of clinical signs alone.
Relevant Papers
|
