What You Need to Know About the Virus Without a Vaccine, Treatment Hits Certain Regions
Cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, have hit certain states, including California and New Jersey.
HMPV can cause upper and lower respiratory infections, and there is currently no vaccine to prevent it and no specific antiviral therapy to treat it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Instead, medical care may be “supportive,” the CDC notes, which often involves treating symptoms. “Most people will recover on their own,” the agency noted, but added that sick people should drink plenty of fluids, stay home and rest.
The Cleveland Clinic says treatment for the virus may include oxygen therapy if the patient has difficulty breathing.
Here’s what you need to know about the virus:
Is HMPV a new virus?
HMPV is not a “new” virus in 2026. It was first detected in 2001, but cases have not risen to recent levels in the US since the April 2025 outbreak.
As of Feb. 21, the most recent data available, HMPV accounts for slightly more than 5% of weekly tests reported for respiratory viruses, according to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System, or NREVSS. This is up from 3.83% last week.
In April 2025, the weekly percentage reached 7.43%, NREVSS data shows.
In New Jersey, the increase in HMPV cases, along with the number of RSV, COVID and influenza cases, has led to an increase in the number of people seeking emergency care, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
In Northern California communities, high concentrations of HMPV have been found in wastewater, according to data from the WastewaterScan Dashboard, a public database that monitors sewage for infectious diseases.
Symptoms of HMPV
Symptoms of HMPV include cough, nasal congestion, fever and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. In some cases, these symptoms can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia.
Similar to the flu, HMPV is seasonal, meaning its transmission begins in the winter and continues into the spring.
The incubation period for HMPV can be three to six days, according to the CDC, and high-risk groups include young children and adults 65 or older.
HMPV prevention
Although there is no specific treatment or vaccine for HMPV, there are steps you can take to help prevent infection.
Since the virus can be spread from person to person or through an environment, the CDC suggests following basic respiratory infection prevention strategies, including:
- Washing hands properly
- Avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoiding close contact with sick people
- Cleaning frequently touched areas
- Taking steps for clean air
And for those with flu-like symptoms, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze to prevent the spread.
Contributor: Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY
This article first appeared in USA TODAY: What you need to know about virus without vaccine, treatment entering certain states
Reporting by Sara Moniuszko, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
