hMPV
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Human metapneumovirus |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
hMPV stands for Human metapneumovirus, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Respiratory virus related to RSV that causes colds, bronchiolitis and pneumonia, mainly in young children, older adults and people with weakened immunity. It circulates mostly in late winter and spring, and there is no specific vaccine or antiviral.
Example: Respiratory panel positive for hMPV in nursing home resident; droplet precautions and supportive care.
Usage notes
Discovered in the Netherlands in 2001, although stored samples show it had circulated for decades. Most children are infected by age five. It drew media attention in early 2025 during a seasonal rise in China, though public health agencies noted it is a long-established virus. Written with a lowercase "h".
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- HAP – Hospital-acquired pneumonia
- HAV – Hepatitis A virus
- HBsAg – Hepatitis B surface antigen
- HBV – Hepatitis B virus
- HCV – Hepatitis C virus
- HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus
- HPV – Human papillomavirus
- HSV – Herpes simplex virus
- HZ – Herpes zoster
- IDSA – Infectious Diseases Society of America
- IGRA – Interferon-gamma release assay
- IIV – Inactivated influenza vaccine
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.