Doctors say this is the most important virus you've never heard of

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

The past winter was a heavy one for respiratory viruses, dominated by surges of RSV, influenza and Covid-19. But just as it was winding down, a little-known virus that causes many of the same symptoms – a lower lung infection, hacking cough, runny nose, sore throat and fever – was just picking up steam.

Cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, spiked this spring, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s respiratory virus surveillance systems. It filled hospital intensive care units with young children and seniors who are the most vulnerable to these infections. At its peak in mid-March, nearly 11% of tested specimens were positive for HMPV, a number that’s about 36% higher than the average, pre-pandemic seasonal peak of 7% test positivity.

Most people who caught it probably didn’t even know they had it, however. Sick people aren’t usually tested for it outside of a hospital or ER. Unlike Covid-19 and the flu, there’s no vaccine for HMPV or antiviral drugs to treat it. Instead, doctors care for seriously ill people by tending to their symptoms.

Studies show that HMPV causes as much misery in the US each year as the flu and a closely related virus, RSV. One study of patient samples collected over 25 years found that it was the second most common cause of respiratory infections in kids behind RSV. A study in New York conducted over four winters found that it was as common in hospitalized seniors as RSV and the flu. Like those infections, HMPV can lead to intensive care and fatal cases of pneumonia in older adults.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/29/health/human-metapneumovirus-explainer-wellness/index.html

[Ilsa]

1. Well, crap. Something else for those of us with risk factors to worry about.

Why "meta" in the name? I'll go read the article.

[mucifer]

2. Yeah, I have had patients with it. It can be very bad.

[ananda]

3. I had RSV.

I wonder if that would give me some protection
againt HMPV.

[LonePirate]

4. I'm surprised there is not a vaccine for this. We probably won't go 5 more years without one.

[keithbvadu2]

5. Even sooner for someone to claim it's unconstitutional, unChristian, and causes autism.

Even sooner for someone to claim it's unconstitutional, unChristian, and causes autism.

[CBHagman]

14. Recent news from the FDA.

They've approved the first RSV vaccine, which will be for use with adults 60 and over.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine

[paleotn]

6. One of innumerable respiratory viruses that infects Homo sapiens.

I remember my better half getting deathly sick in 2000 with some awful respiratory virus. Wasn't the flu. Didn't act like the flu or so she said. Being a health care professional, I accepted her diagnosis. In a few days, I got it too. Laid me low for 3 days and then I hacked up the most awful, evil funk for a week. Who knows what it was. One of the numerous bugs that infects humans. Before Covid, most went rarely noticed and unnamed.

[sybylla]

18. i remember that evil mucus infection.

hubs and i both had it. Super gross. i will mask forever if it means never getting that again.

[Duppers]

7. All the more reason to keep masking around sick folks.

Go ahead, fake-Dems here, criticize me for saying that - I will report you this time.

[Born Free]

8. we still mask up

For health reasons I do not wish to share, both my wife and I still wear masks when shopping etc. People look at us and chuckle but at the end of the day if we do not get sick we are happy. I know, the masks do not give total protection, but any protection is better than none.

[Duppers]

9. Absolutely, i agree!

[markodochartaigh]

19. I didn't work more than thirty years as a nurse

to drop dead after a couple of years of retirement from something that I could easily have prevented. I'm vaxxed and boosted. I rarely wear a mask now, but I go when the grocery store is almost empty and I'm in and out in fifteen minutes or less, once a week. I get take out from restaurants and gave up my volunteering for the time being. The rare occasion that I have to be more than fifteen minutes in a crowd I wear a mask. If people want to chuckle that's fine, they better practice though because it is very difficult to chuckle on a ventilator.

[Marthe48]

10. I bet I had it in 2022

I was sick for over 5 weeks, from the end of Feb to the middle of April. I had a low fever, chest congestion, felt horrible. I saw drs. twice, and got the meds for flu and then the meds for pneumonia, didn't do any good. I lost 10 lbs because I had no appetite. It wasn't Covid, tG.

[kwijybo]

15. I think I had it in March

Felt like a very bad cold or middlin' flu (not COVID, was tested and have had it before) but it went straight for my lungs. Main illness gone after 3 days, but it stayed in my lungs. Even with antibiotics, I was sick for a couple of weeks. Coughed up crap for a month! Saw a Doc twice, as the amoxacillin (usually perfect but coughing a bit after 3 days) didn't really help, but "you'll be fine in a week". I wasn't but I was better enough.

[KewlKat]

20. That's what happened to me...first week of March and can't shake this crap...don't care for my Dr.

need to just do a walkin clinic I guess.

[kwijybo]

21. It's still in your lungs?

Yes, see a doctor. Walk in somewhere, and tell them how long it's been.

[KewlKat]

22. it feels bronchial...coughing up stuff, hacking during the night, etc. Winded when I exercise.

Wheezing....sigh

[littlemissmartypants]

11. ❤️

[Yavin4]

13. I thought that it was going to be the "woke mind virus".

At least according to DeSantis, Elon Musk, and Bill Maher.

[Marthe48]

17. Wish that would spread

faster that it is :/