Virus spreading in China raises concerns in the U.S.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) — A virus rapidly spreading in China is also circulating in the United States, causing concern among health experts. While many people may attribute their cold-like symptoms to common respiratory illnesses, Dr. Brad Sobolewski of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital warns that a different virus, human metapneumovirus, could be the culprit.

“It’s often described as a goopy wheeze,” said Sobolewski, an emergency medicine specialist. “It’s like a turbulent noise that you hear when a kid breathes out, but also that junky sound of a lot of mucus.”

Human metapneumovirus is similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and primarily affects children 5 years old and younger, Sobolewski said. However, adults, especially older adults, can also become very sick from it.

Dr. Charles Eger, principal investigator at Velocity Clinical Research, said, “There’s three licensed RSV vaccines currently. This would be the first vaccine to fight this cousin virus called human metapneumovirus, that typically attacks seniors, so this will be the first in human to combine the two in our clinical trial.”

While symptoms of human metapneumovirus are largely indistinguishable from other respiratory illnesses, the virus is spreading rapidly in China, raising concerns about a potential pandemic similar to COVID-19.

In most cases, symptoms last about two to five days with good hydration, rest, and sometimes home suctioning. However, if symptoms worsen, medical attention is advised.