For the vulnerable, the virus can cause a shortness of breath, severe cough or wheezing. The US data came as Beijing claimed its rate of infections with HMPV in northern China was declining.

Retrospective studies have shown the presence of human metapneumovirus ... virus-infected patients. Clinical symptoms vary, but it is a significant cause of lower respiratory tract infection ...

Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist, WHO, in her social media post on Monday said that HMPV is nothing to panic about. “It’s a known virus that causes respiratory infections ...