How did the 400 year old ‘bird virus’ reach humans?

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which shows corona-like symptoms in China, has now reached India. On Monday, a three-month-old girl was found infected with this virus. Earlier this infection was seen in an eight-month-old child. After this a case has come to light in Gujarat. This virus is more likely to affect young children, especially those under 2 years of age. So far 7 cases have been reported in India.

However, this is not a new virus. According to the US government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was discovered in humans in 2001, meaning it was only this year that it was discovered that this virus could infect humans. But do you know that this virus has been around us for 200-400 years? Earlier its effect was only on birds. So the question arises that how did the ‘bird virus’ reach humans and now making them sick?

Earlier this virus spread in birds

According to Science Direct, human metapneumovirus (HMPV) shows that the spread of respiratory diseases between humans and animals is not new. Although this virus was first identified in humans in 2001, scientific research suggests that it transferred from birds to humans 200–400 years ago. At that time it was called avian metapneumovirus.

But since then, the virus has repeatedly mutated and adapted itself to the human body in such a way that it now affects only humans and not birds. Its “adjustment” has become so perfect that by the age of 5, almost every person in the world gets infected with this virus.

Immunity and fighting viruses

Our body’s immune system is based on antibodies and T cells. But HMPV is very clever in weakening our immune system. It slows down the immune response by increasing programmed cell death receptors in T cells.

Our immunity against this virus does not last forever. Because of this, it can cause mild infection again. However in most cases it is negligible. There was news of its spread in China in 2024. In the year 2023, this virus was found in countries like Netherlands, Britain, Finland, Australia, Canada and America.

Can it be as deadly as Corona?

No variant of this virus has been found yet, which spreads explosively like Corona. This virus can infect people of all ages.