Dutch identify virus causing flu-like illness

JOHANNESBURG -- A new virus capable of causing a flu-like illness has been discovered, Medinfo reported yesterday.

Identified by Dutch researchers, the virus provisionally named human metapneumovirus was isolated from 28 schoolchildren, Dr Andrew Jamieson, medical director of SAA-Netcare Travel Clinics, said in a statement.

The discovery of the virus was reported in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.

Jamieson said the closest relative of the virus caused respiratory infections in birds and was known as the turkey rhinotracheitis virus.

Children infected with human metapneumovirus developed a range of respiratory tract symptoms, including severe lower airway disease and pneumonia.

Jamieson said the virus was widespread, with evidence that all Dutch children had been exposed by the age of five.

Reviews of stored blood specimens showed that the virus had been in circulation for at least 50 years.

"This newly discovered virus joins influenza and respiratory syncytial virus as problematic causes of flu-like illnesses. Of interest is the fact that its closest relative is a turkey virus, as new human flu strains are thought to emerge from viral mixing in birds," he said. -- Sapa