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The burden of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in children is poorly understood. This study is the largest, prospective, population-based study of HMPV infection in children. The results represent approximately 10,500 enrolled children younger than 5 years with acute respiratory symptoms or fever who were seen as inpatients or outpatients from May 2003 through 2009 in three U.S. counties.
Laboratory-confirmed HMPV was detected in 656 children: 200 (6%) of 3490 inpatients, 222 (7%) of 3257 outpatients and 224 (7%) of 3001 emergency department patients, and in only 10 (1%) of 770 asymptomatic controls. Rates were highest in infants younger than 6 months. Hospitalized children with HMPV were significantly more likely than hospitalized children with…