HMPV Rampages Across the United States with a Sky-High 43% Fatality Rate!
Following COVID-19 and RSV, yet another new virus is rapidly spreading across the United States.
The Respiratory Virus Surveillance System of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that since this spring, a relatively unknown “lethal virus” called Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been wreaking havoc in the intensive care units and pediatric hospitals across the country.
According to the CDC‘s Respiratory Virus Surveillance System, cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) have surged by 36% compared to before the pandemic. Hospital ICUs are filled with vulnerable infants and elderly individuals susceptible to infection.
What’s even more concerning is that due to limited testing, patients infected with HMPV may not even be aware of the specific illness they have contracted. There are no specific antiviral drugs or vaccines available for this virus.
Adding to the worry, the symptoms of HMPV closely resemble those of COVID-19 and influenza, including lower respiratory tract infection, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, and fever. Medical treatment can only alleviate the symptoms, as there is no cure for the virus, relying solely on the natural recovery of the human immune system.
This partially explains why some individuals experience similar symptoms but test negative for COVID-19 and influenza.
Due to the limited knowledge surrounding this virus, the medical community refers to HMPV as an “underestimated viral threat.” According to Dr. John Williams, a pediatrician at the University of Pittsburgh, HMPV is the second leading cause of respiratory tract infections in children, following respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
A study published in The Lancet Global Health in 2020 estimated that in 2018, over 14 million children under the age of 5 were infected with HMPV , resulting in more than 600,000 hospitalizations and over 16,000 deaths.
Research from the National Institutes of Health in the United States also indicates a 43% mortality rate for HMPV 100 days after infection.
Leigh Davison, a 59-year-old woman, contracted HMPV after attending a family gathering. Her symptoms were severe, to the point where she could barely speak and found it difficult to make phone calls.
“I could only manage a few words before coughing intensely, almost to the point of vomiting,” said Davison. She underwent six COVID-19 tests, all of which were negative before finally being diagnosed with HMPV.
Her illness led to a month-long hospital stay and severe bronchitis, gradually improving only after that.
“This is the most severe respiratory infection I’ve ever experienced,” Davison said.
It is undeniable that HMPV is a hidden virus! Let this serve as a reminder for everyone to be cautious and take necessary precautions in their daily lives!
