Dr John Williams, a paediatrician on the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, warned of the "most important virus you've never heard of".

HMPV is "most likely to put people in the hospital and cause severe disease" – on par with Covid and flu.

The contagious viral an infection is the "most likely to sweep through nursing homes and make older people really sick and even kill them".

Dr William's warning is well timed certainly because the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) observe that HMPV is "most active during late winter and spring".

Symptoms of HMPV can embrace cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.

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The CDC provides: "Clinical symptoms of HMPV infection may progress to bronchitis or pneumonia."

Pneumonia (and influenza) had been the main reason behind extra dying in each England and Wales in January 2023, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) states.

The CDC says: "Currently, there is no specific antiviral therapy to treat HMPV and no vaccine to prevent HMPV."

The virus spreads from an contaminated individual after they cough or sneeze, or when shaking palms, for instance.

You may also catch the virus by touching an contaminated floor that has the virus on it after which touching your mouth, nostril, or eyes.

How to guard your self towards HMPV

Good hygiene etiquette can assist to decrease your danger of catching HMPV.

This contains washing your palms usually with cleaning soap and water, refraining from touching your eyes, nostril or mouth with unwashed palms, and avoiding contact with sick folks.

Those who're presenting with cold-like signs can assist to forestall the unfold of the virus by overlaying their mouth and nostril when coughing and sneezing.

Sick folks must also "avoid sharing their cups and eating utensils with others", the CDC notes.

Those people who find themselves feeling unwell must also chorus from kissing a sick individual.

The CDC says: "In addition, cleaning possible contaminated surfaces (such as doorknobs and shared toys) may potentially help stop the spread of HMPV."

Since HMPV is recognised as a respiratory virus, healthcare professionals might not routinely think about or check for HMPV.