Microbiology · Other viruses and prions
Human metapneumovirus !
- Virus
- Enveloped
- Contact
- For completeness
A respiratory virus related to RSV: it causes colds, bronchiolitis and pneumonia, mostly in young children, older adults and the immunocompromised.
Updated 2026-11-01
Also called: hMPV
At a glance
- Shape
- Pleomorphic
- Genome
- Single-stranded, negative-sense, non-segmented RNA
- Envelope
- Enveloped
- Family
- Pneumoviridae (like RSV)
- Size
- About 150 to 600 nm
Morphology
- Envelope with the F fusion protein and the G attachment protein
- Discovered in 2001
- Two main genotypes (A and B)
Transmission
- Respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes
- Direct contact and contaminated surfaces
Reservoir: Humans
Isolation precautions
What the care team adds to standard precautions.
- Contact
- Gown and gloves; dedicated equipment. For C. difficile, soap-and-water hand washing.
Virulence factors
- The F protein mediates fusion with respiratory epithelial cells
- Infects the lower airway and causes inflammation and mucus in the bronchioles
- Immunity is incomplete: reinfections occur throughout life
Diseases it causes
- Bronchiolitis in infants Bronchiolitis (RSV) →
- Pneumonia in children, older adults and the immunocompromised Community-acquired pneumonia →
Clinical picture
- Cough, fever, nasal congestion and shortness of breath
- Wheezing in infants, as in RSV bronchiolitis
- Asthma and COPD exacerbations in adults
Diagnosis
- PCR (nucleic acid amplification tests) of nasopharyngeal secretions, included in multiplex panels
- Antigen tests in some laboratories
- Clinically indistinguishable from RSV
Treatment
No specific antiviral: supportive care with oxygen, fluids and suctioning of secretions as needed.
Drug class only; doses and regimens are set by the clinician from the current guideline.
Prevention
- Handwashing and surface cleaning
- Staying home while ill
- No vaccine
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which family does human metapneumovirus belong to, and which virus shares it?
Pneumoviridae, the same family as respiratory syncytial virus.
What illness does it cause in infants?
Bronchiolitis with cough, wheezing and breathing difficulty, indistinguishable from RSV bronchiolitis.
How is metapneumovirus diagnosed?
By PCR of nasopharyngeal secretions, often in a multiplex respiratory panel.
Related
Related conditions
← Back to the group: Other viruses and prions
Educational content on microorganisms; not a treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: About Human Metapneumovirus | Human Metapneumovirus | CDC (CDC, 2025); Bronchiolitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (MedlinePlus (NLM), 2024).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.