Italian research results on HMPV

An Italian research group has submitted an article for publication in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, thereby making the data from the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) reports on metapneumovirus (HMPV) and other respiratory viruses accessible to the scientific community. The research comprised the data collection regarding the number of samples, sequences, and detections of HMPV available from the 2022-2023 influenza seasons, with numbers showing an increasing incidence of cases in different weeks of the year. The study also demonstrated that, although there is currently no specific antiviral treatment for metapneumovirus, symptomatic treatment has been generally effective in most cases. The primary author of the study, Francesco Branda of the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, in collaboration with the epidemiologist Massimo Ciccozzi and Fabio Scarpa, emphasised the significance of the international dissemination of epidemiological data in mitigating the potential consequences of HMPV spread on a global scale. This is particularly relevant for vaccine development and underscores the importance of fostering international cooperation to safeguard public health.