21 Feb 2023 • A serotyping done on adenovirus samples at ICMR-NICED Kolkata has found a combination of the dangerous strain 7,along with the virulent strain 3, in a majority of samples. In addition to an unusually high number of children with severe disease this time, the adenovirus infection is causing death with at least two reported recently.

Health experts said adenovirus 7 was the deadliest of the more-than-100 strains of adenovirus, including about 50 strains that infect humans. Adenovirus 3 is another leading cause for acute respiratory distress. Even though the state health department has not released any data on the number of children affected nor the death toll till date, officials said at least 32% of the samples sent to the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (ICMR-NICED) in Kolkata since January have tested positive.

Adenovirus infections cannot be treated with any approved antiviral drugs or methods. Most adenovirus infections are minor, and symptoms can usually be handled with rest and over-the-counter anti-pyretics. While there is an adenovirus vaccine, it is only allowed to be used in the US military.

Source: TOI | Read full story