Infograhic What You Should Know About Human Metapneumovirus Hmpv

Concerns about Human Metapneumovirus HMPV have increased since the outbreak in China in December 2024.

Many people are questioning whether it could lead to another pandemic, similar to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

According to the World Health Organisation, there is usually a rise in acute respiratory infections during winter in several Northern Hemisphere countries.

Seasonal epidemics caused by respiratory pathogens, including respiratory syncytial virus RSV, seasonal influenza, Human Metapneumovirus HMPV, and Mycoplasma Pneumoniae, are typically responsible for these increases.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases NICD states that HMPV is a respiratory virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family.