FILE - A man sneezes into a tissue on March 14, 2020. (Photo by Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images) A lesser-known virus that causes a respiratory infection with symptoms like cough, fever, congestion, and shortness of breath, spiked this spring and filled hospitals, officials said.
Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, can cause respiratory disease in people of all ages, but particularly among young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, according to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases of HMPV, which is in the same family as the more well-known RSV, spiked in the spring, data from the CDC shows.
Nationally, the most cases were detected throughout the month of March.RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.Infectious diseases, including acute respiratory infections, are among the leading causes of death in children under 5 globally.