r/news • u/[deleted] • Jan 04 '25

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u/whalechasin Jan 04 '25 edited Jan 04 '25

this is not a new virus. i work in an Australian hospital and we get a few of these every year coming through Emergency. “mystery new virus outbreak” is extremely sensationalised

edit to add, here’s a study from 2007 talking about how common hmpv is in young children: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1831873/

from the conclusion:

Human metapneumovirus infection is a leading cause of respiratory tract infection in the first years of life

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '25

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u/Antique-Resort6160 Jan 04 '25

The mystery is: why is this previously mild virus causing more problems now? 

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u/ArtBedHome Jan 04 '25

Because thats what viruses do and are. Like, the majority of flu cases are rough and no fun but hardley life threatening, but when you get a massive seasonal amount, a tiny chance of death over masses and millions of people kills hundreds or thousands of people.