Human Metapneumovirus: let’s all calm down first
The HinduHuman metapneumovirus is suddenly making headlines, but not for the reasons one might expect. Over the last week, India has witnessed a barrage of sensational media reports claiming the emergence of a “new dangerous virus” supposedly originating from China and spreading across India and the world. The memories of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, which were full of cryptic information and absolute unfamiliarity among experts and the public alike regarding a new dangerous virus, are probably the reason why the news of HMPV is spreading like wildfire in India. Previously, most cases of upper respiratory tract infections caused by HMPV went undetected, not because the virus was absent, but because such advanced and costly diagnostic tests were not routinely used. Third, healthcare professionals should remain updated through reliable channels such as the Health Ministry or scientific journals, rather than relying on media reports for information about new outbreaks or diseases.