RSV rates were decreasing this spring, a lesser-known virus was on the rise

The percent of tests positive for human metapneumovirus (hMPV) surged to 19.6% for antigen tests and 10.9% percent for PCR tests at the beginning of March, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During the four years before the pandemic, the weekly percentage of positive tests never reached higher than 7.7%, data shows.

Meanwhile, during the beginning of Match, the percentage of tests positive for COVID and RSV were at 7% and 2%, respectively, according to the CDC.

The virus causes mild symptoms for most people and typically goes away on its own, but health experts say the data is a reminder about staying vigilant regarding all types of respiratory infections and not just the ones getting the most attention.

“There’s a number of different respiratory viruses that haven’t gotten much attention and human metapneumovirus is one of them,” Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, a professor of health policy and management at City University of New York School of Public Health, told ABC News.

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