HMPV can occur at any age but is most common in children and the elderly. It is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets (e.g. by coughing or sneezing) and contact routes. After a 5-9-day latent period, the symptoms of the respiratory infection usually last for a week. Most often, the infection causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Rarely, in patients with weakened immune systems, HMPV can cause severe respiratory tract infections and pneumonia. In extreme cases, even ventilation may be necessary. In people with chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma or COPD, it can lead to an acute exacerbation of the underlying disease, the specialists of the Department of Pulmonology point out.
HMPV can be detected by RT-PCR testing, which may be necessary in high-risk patients, especially to avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics. Treatment is geared toward easing symptoms, including fever control, hydration, and rest, as there is no specific antiviral treatment available. Washing hands thoroughly with disinfectant and wearing a mask are essential in prevention.
Recently, several national news outlets, referring to Chinese state media, have reported on a virus that causes upper respiratory illness and has the potential to cause a serious lung infection. China’s National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention has reported a spike in HMPV cases among children aged 14 and under. In Hungary, four patients had been diagnosed with HMPV by the end of last year, according to a weekly report from the Respiratory Surveillance Service of the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK). The Department of Pulmonology stresses, however, that HMPV is not a new virus, it was discovered in 2001 as a cause of respiratory infections.
Source: Department of Pulmonology (Dr. Zsombor Matics, Dr. Edit Hidvégi, Dr. Anikó Bohács, Dr. Veronika Müller)
Translation: Judit Szabados-Dőtsch
Illustration: iStock
