Edited excerpts from the interview. 

Do you foresee a pandemic outbreak like COVID-19?
There’s no comparison between HMPV and COVID-19. HMPV has an extremely low fatality rate and primarily affects the very young and the elderly. Immunity after infection is neither strong nor long-lasting. It doesn’t have specific symptoms, resembling other causes of the common cold or sore throat (pharyngitis). The infection is self-limiting, and the specific virus causing the mainly upper respiratory symptoms is identified only through testing.