human metapneumovirus


hu·man me·ta·pneu·mo·vi·rus

(hyūmăn metă-nūmō-vīrŭs) A negative single-stranded RNA virus that may be the primary cause of lower respiratory tract infection in children.

Human metapneumovirus

A recently-discovered respiratory virus that is a major cause of acute lower respiratory infections especially in the first ten years of life. Infections feature bronchiolitis, croup, pneumonia and exacerbation of asthma. It is related to, and roughly equal in importance to, the respiratory syncytial virus.