43% mortality rate from human metapneumovirus? Excessive hype is unacceptable, and it must be viewed scientifically

A recent news item showed that the mortality rate of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection after 100 days was 43%. It's actually a half-truth.

The fact that HMPV has a 100-day mortality rate of 43% is real, but it occurs in people after hematopoietic cell transplantation [1]. Because such people need to transplant hematopoietic stem cells, they take immunosuppressants, which can almost be said to be a type of person who has no immunity at all. In immunocompromised people, the mortality rate caused by HMPV is not high at 43% [1], but this data does not apply to ordinary people.

For the general population, a 2016 inpatient analysis of Nicklaus Children's Hospital showed that HMPV infection had a mortality rate of 0.5% for hospitalized children. [2] However, this does not mean that it is not worth paying attention to, and the mortality rate of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the same hospital is only 0.1%. [2]

The mortality rate from HMPV infection in medically disadvantaged areas is certainly higher than the above data, and HMPV infection is associated with more severe disease, longer hospital stay, higher costs, and higher mortality compared to RSV. [2] - It deserves our attention.

For healthy adults, although it is not serious, but also to do a good job of protection, repeated infection with the virus really will not exercise your immune system, the means of protection are similar to other respiratory diseases.

(1) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

(2) Avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

(3) Avoid close contact with sick people.

(4) Wear a mask

Patients with cold-like symptoms should

(1) Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing

(2) Wash your hands frequently in the correct way (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds)

(3) Avoid sharing cups and cutlery with others

(4) Don't kiss others

(6) Stay at home when sick

At present, HMPV infection does not have corresponding anti-infective drugs, so the medication method is actually similar to the current response to the new crown, symptomatic treatment, fever, pain with antipyretic analgesics, cough on cough.

Resources:

[1] Renaud C, Xie H, Seo S, et al. Mortality rates of human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infections in hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2013;19(8):1220-1226.

[2] Meghana N; Paul M, et al. HUMAN METAPNEUMOVIRUS IS MORE SEVERE THAN RSV INFECTION IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN. Critical Care Medicine. 48(1(Supplement))