HMPV is surging in China. Is the US next?

Advisory Board January 8, 2025

In parts of China, rates of a respiratory disease called human metapneumovirus (HMPV) are surging, leading to some concerns about whether a more serious outbreak could occur. Here’s what you need to know about HMPV and its potential impact in the United States.

What is HMPV?

HMPV is a respiratory virus similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Although HMPV was first identified in 2001, researchers say it has circulated in humans for at least 60 years.

“It’s oftentimes indistinguishable from the other respiratory viruses, because we don’t usually check for it unless somebody is really ill,” said Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.

Some symptoms of HMPV...

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