A Re-emerging Respiratory Virus: Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV)

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is identified as a pathogenic agent responsible for respiratory tract infections in paediatric, adult and elderly populations. It is a spherical, enveloped virus with a diameter of 209nm, consisting of a single-stranded, non-segmented, and negative-sense RNA genome of around 13.3 kb in length. hMPV infection is prevalent all around the globe, with peak positivity rates detected mostly during later winter and spring seasons. Mostly transmitted through droplet or aerosol contamination, this viral infection may manifest clinical characteristics indicative of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections like fever, cough, rhinorrhea, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and croup. The recommended laboratory diagnostic approach is reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, given the challenges associated with culturing the virus. This review article focuses on the structure, replication, genotype, epidemiology, seasonality, transmission methods, clinical manifestations in humans, treatment methodology, and outbreaks of hMPV that have been reported worldwide.