Among hospitalized children and teens, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mostly affects younger, otherwise healthy infants, while the lesser-known human metapneumovirus (HMPV) tends to affect older children, many of whom have preexisting health conditions, according to a study published in Pediatrics .

Researchers and other experts said the findings will hopefully promote the development of HMPV vaccines and affordable rapid diagnostic tests for the virus in outpatient settings.

“HPMV is not on people’s radar,” said John V. Williams, MD , chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wisconsin. “It was the largest prospective apples-to-apples comparison [on RSV and HMPV]; it has tremendous importance in that se

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