Human Metapneumovirus Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic, Spain
María Luz García‐García, Elena Pérez-Arenas, Pedro Pérez-Hernandez, Iker Falces‐Romero, Sara Ruiz, Francisco Pozo, Inmaculada Casas, Cristina Calvo
Abstract
We describe an unusual outbreak of respiratory infections caused by human metapneumovirus in children during the sixth wave of COVID-19 in Spain, associated with the Omicron variant. Patients in this outbreak were older than usual and showed more hypoxia and pneumonia, longer length of stay, and greater need for intensive care.
Topics & Concepts
Human metapneumovirusOutbreakPandemicPneumoniaMetapneumovirusCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)VirologySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Medicine2019-20 coronavirus outbreakIntensive carePediatricsRespiratory tract infectionsRespiratory systemIntensive care medicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)Internal medicineDiseaseRespiratory viral infections researchRespiratory Support and MechanismsViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology