The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released findings last week highlighting a spike in cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, in March 2023.
HMPV is a respiratory virus that can cause lower lung infections, leading to a deep, hacking cough and other mild symptoms like runny nose, sore throat, and fever, the CDC said.
In older adults, such as those with comorbid conditions and residing in nursing homes, it can spread easily and have serious consequences requiring intensive treatment, and can sometimes be fatal.
HMPV cases began to rise in late winter, and rose steadily to average 36% higher in March than the average number of cases before the pandemic, CDC reported.
The CDC said the average seasonal peak for HMPV cases is 7%. This year, the seasonal peak increased by 11%, leading to a spike in hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, and illnesses among young children and seniors – two populations that are the most vulnerable to respiratory viruses.
According to a previous CDC report, there was an outbreak of HMPV and another common virus known as RSV in a nursing home in Tennessee in 2017, which caused more than 75% of the residents to become seriously ill, resulting in five deaths.
This news on the increase of HMPV cases follows that on other growing infections in nursing homes.
Skilled Nursing News reported that the number of fungal infections and viruses resistant to antibiotic treatment, or multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), is on the rise.
The CDC recommends doctors consider testing for HMPV in the winter and spring when cases peak.
CDC tracks the data on viruses through the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS). Participating U.S. laboratories voluntarily report weekly to CDC the total number of weekly aggregate tests performed to detect these viruses.