ArticleFrontiers in public health2026
Genetic and epidemiological characteristics of the spread of human metapneumovirus in Bulgaria, 2023-2025.
Article in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Epidemiological and Molecular Characterization of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Children Under 14 Years of Age in Shijiazhuang City, China.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
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12 authors.
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Abstract
Introduction: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) can cause severe respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia, particularly in young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. This study aimed to assess hMPV circulation patterns, including seasonal and demographic distribution, track genetic evolution and mutations in surface proteins, and explore associations with clinical severity. Methods: From early 2023 to November 2025, Bulgaria's National Reference Laboratory tested nasopharyngeal samples from 6,958 patients with respiratory symptoms using an in-house multiplex real-time PCR method that detected 11 viruses. Positive hMPV samples were sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically. Results: A study conducted 3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic found that 1.4% (97 patients) tested positive for hMPV, with most being mono-infected (85.6%) and others co-infected, primarily with rhinovirus and adenovirus. The infection rate was highest in children under 5 (2.8%), especially infants and toddlers (2.2%), compared to 0.4% in those over 65 ( Conclusion: The findings confirm that hMPV is a significant respiratory pathogen for young children, showing substantial genetic diversity in Bulgaria, with lineage A2b2 becoming more prevalent in 2025. Host age and viral genetics may influence disease presentation. These results highlight the clinical burden of hMPV and emphasize the need for preventive strategies, including vaccine development for high-risk children.
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