metapneumovirus
noun
meta·pneu·mo·vi·rus
ˌme-tə-ˈn(y)ü-mō-ˌvī-rəs 
plural metapneumoviruses
: any of a genus (Metapneumovirus) of pneumoviruses that cause respiratory infections chiefly in humans and birds
especially
: human metapneumovirus
Humans are believed to have passed metapneumovirus to mountain gorillas in Africa. —
Jim Robbins
Jim Robbins Examples of metapneumovirus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those included avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and the H5N1 flu virus.
—Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2025
Santora said that this season’s influenza viruses and cases of metapneumovirus, which has recently surged in China, are proving more taxing than COVID-19.
—Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
Kazakhstan has recorded a seasonal rise in the number of metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Third, genetic analysis by several different groups shows that the closest recent ancestor of HMPV is a bird virus, avian metapneumovirus.
—John V. Williams, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2023
After three years of largely being punted out of the limelight, a whole glut of airway pathogens—among them, adenovirus, RSV, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza, common-cold coronaviruses, and rhinoviruses galore—are awfully common again.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2023
This approach that led to remarkably safe and effective vaccines against a new virus is also showing promise against old enemies such as HIV, and infections that threaten babies and young children, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and metapneumovirus.
—Maggie Fox, CNN, 1 June 2021
Some of that could be attributed to disease outbreaks that impacted the industry during this period, like infectious bronchitis, Avian metapneumovirus, and necrotic enteritis.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2025
Santora said that this season’s influenza viruses and cases of metapneumovirus, which has recently surged in China, are proving more taxing than COVID-19.
—Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
Kazakhstan has recorded a seasonal rise in the number of metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Third, genetic analysis by several different groups shows that the closest recent ancestor of HMPV is a bird virus, avian metapneumovirus.
—John V. Williams, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2023
After three years of largely being punted out of the limelight, a whole glut of airway pathogens—among them, adenovirus, RSV, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza, common-cold coronaviruses, and rhinoviruses galore—are awfully common again.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2023
This approach that led to remarkably safe and effective vaccines against a new virus is also showing promise against old enemies such as HIV, and infections that threaten babies and young children, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and metapneumovirus.
—Maggie Fox, CNN, 1 June 2021
Some of that could be attributed to disease outbreaks that impacted the industry during this period, like infectious bronchitis, Avian metapneumovirus, and necrotic enteritis.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Metapneumovirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metapneumovirus. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
metapneumovirus
noun
meta·pneu·mo·vi·rus
ˌmet-ə-ˈn(y)ü-mō-ˌvī-rəs
1
Metapneumovirus
: a genus of pneumoviruses that cause respiratory infections chiefly in humans and birds
2
: any virus of the genus Metapneumovirus
especially
: human metapneumovirus
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