A Respiratory Virus Is Spiking In Multiple States Right Now. You’ve Likely Never Heard Of It

Cases of nan lesser-known respiratory virus human metapneumovirus are continuing to spike successful Georgia and states astir nan country.

The pneumonia- and bronchitis-causing infection made up 6.4 percent of nan Peach State’s affirmative tests for respiratory viruses successful nan first week of March.

At nan aforesaid clip past year, nan positivity rate was 3 percent, according to authorities data.

Rates are besides continuing to emergence astatine wastewater curen plants successful Northern California, nan nationalist database WastewaterScan Dashboard shows. Wastewater testing serves arsenic an early discovery instrumentality for microorganism spread.

In New Jersey, which has seen elevated levels of nan virus, nan number of affirmative tests started to fall. Still, levels astir nan U.S. are higher than astatine nan aforesaid clip past year.

And nationwide, nan virus, besides known arsenic “HMPV,” accounted for more than 5 percent of affirmative tests for respiratory viruses for nan week ending connected March 7, nan U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

Testing positivity was astatine 3.82 percent during nan first week of March 2025.

So, really worried should you beryllium astir infection and what do you request to cognize to enactment safe?

First discovered successful 2001, HMPV is simply a seasonal microorganism that circulates successful nan wintertime and spring. Cases successful nan U.S. person been trending up since October 2025 and a caller study has recovered that the microorganism peaks later than influenza - successful April.

Infection typically causes symptoms akin to a acold that past for only a fewer days to a week.

But, it whitethorn besides consequence successful much superior symptoms, for illustration mediate receptor infections, life-threatening asthma attacks and a barking cough, experts caution.

In uncommon instances, infection tin consequence successful decease successful much susceptible patients, including infants, nan elderly and group who are immunocompromised, researchers say.

An estimated 12 hospitalizations occurred per 100,000 group each twelvemonth from 2016-2019, a federal study from 2025 showed.

“In general, a quality metapneumovirus will often beryllium much terrible than nan much mild viruses for illustration rhinovirus,” Dr. Andrew Thornton, a expert pinch Wellstar successful Cobb County, Georgia, told Healthbeat Atlanta.

“It besides has a batch to do pinch nan diligent and their existent aesculapian conditions and immune status,” he said.

Nearly everyone will drawback astatine slightest 1 strain of HMPV during nan people of their life, according to nan Mayo Clinic.

If you’re older than five, you’ve astir apt already had it astatine slightest once, nan Cleveland Clinic says.

Still, dissimilar nan flu and RSV, location are nary vaccines to forestall HMPV infections, which are diagnosed done laboratory testing.

HMPV tin dispersed done nonstop contact, sneezing, coughing aliases rubbing infected surfaces.

To forestall infection, nan CDC recommends group regularly lavation their hands pinch soap, cleanable surfaces and enactment location erstwhile they are emotion unwell.

“HMPV whitethorn beryllium prevented by pursuing bully respiratory hygiene,” Blumberg said. If you person cold-like symptoms, return nan pursuing steps to forestall spreading nan virus,” Dean Blumberg, main of pediatric infectious diseases astatine U.C. Davis Health, said successful a statement.