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Review
. 2025 Mar 21;17(3):e80964.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.80964. eCollection 2025 Mar.

Human Metapneumovirus: Emergence, Impact, and Public Health Significance

Laresh N Mistry  1 , Sumeet Agarwal  2 , Himmat Jaiswal  3 , Saba Kondkari  4 , Sayem A Mulla  4 , Sankalp D Bhandarkar  5
Affiliations
Review

Human Metapneumovirus: Emergence, Impact, and Public Health Significance

Laresh N Mistry et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has re-emerged as a significant respiratory pathogen in recent times and has attracted significant attention worldwide. Initially, identified in children with respiratory infections with significant impact, hMPV has been implicated for its contribution to global respiratory illness. The unique features of this virus, its origin, evolution, and epidemiological importance has been explored in this narrative review. Additionally, it discusses factors contributing to its recent recognition, including advancements in diagnostic methods, its clinical impact, and public health implications.

Keywords: acute respiratory syndrome; chronic disease epidemiology; hmpv; human metapneumovirus (hmpv); paramyxoviridae; public health care; respiratory viruses; severe acute respiratory infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Structure and genomic features of human metapneumovirus.
Image credits: Dr. Sayem A Mulla, Dr. Saba Kondkari, Dr. Laresh N Mistry.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Global human metapneumovirus data from January 2024 to January 2025.
Image credits: Dr. Saba Kondkari, Dr. Sayem A Mulla, Dr. Laresh N Mistry.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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