Human Metapneumovirus Follow-up

Updated: Aug 06, 2021
  • Author: Varvara Probst, MD; Chief Editor: Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MBBS, MD  more...
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Follow-up

Deterrence/Prevention

Currently, no vaccine is available for human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection. This is an active area of research, with several groups investigating different vaccination strategies in animal models. [44] A vaccine using the F (fusion) protein seems to be promising in cotton rat studies. [45] Inactivated, epitope, chimeric, subunit, and liver-attenuated vaccines are just a few of the different vaccines being assessed for validity against hMPV infection. [51]

Development of prophylactic antiviral preparations is also underway, with hMPV effectively inhibited in vivo using specific viral fusion inhibitors. [46]

Because hMPV transmission is likely to occur by contact with respiratory secretions, adherence to strict infection control methods is recommended in clinic and hospital settings. Droplet isolation is often put in place once testing is ordered for the workup of respiratory infections to prevent further transmission during the initial part of a patient's inpatient stay. If the respiratory workup results are negative, the empiric isolation is discontinued.

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