Human metapneumovirus and other respiratory viral infections in children attending a day care center.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an important cause of acute respiratory infections (ARI). We studied 335 ARI episodes in 74 children<5 years of age attending a day care center during a 1-year period to detect the presence of hMPV and other viruses. Seven (9.5%) children were infected by hMPV and this virus accounted for 2.1% of the ARI episodes.