[HIGHLIGHTS] Human metapneumovirus, the respiratory infection that does not stop increasing in the US: symptoms and how it is transmitted

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an RNA virus that belongs to the family of paramyxoviruses. HMPV is the second most common cause of respiratory infections in children after RSV.

The virus usually affects the upper respiratory tract and causes nasal congestion, cough and shortness of breath. It can progress to the lower airways and lead to a more serious illness, such as bronchiolitis, which causes swelling, irritation, and mucus buildup in the lungs, or pneumonia.