New Virulent Adenovirus Type 14 Variant Emerging in US: CDC


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 15 - A rare strain of adenovirus (serotype 14) that can cause severe and sometimes fatal acute respiratory illness in people of all ages -- including healthy young adults -- is becoming more common in the United States, health officials warn in Thursday's edition of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State and local public health officials "should be alert to the possibility of outbreaks caused by Ad14," the report emphasizes.
In May 2006, a 12-day-old infant in New York died from acute respiratory illness caused by Ad14. Between March and June 2007, a total of 140 additional cases of confirmed Ad14 respiratory illness were identified in groups of patients in Oregon, Washington, and Texas.
Fifty-three of these patients were hospitalized, including 24 who were admitted to intensive care units. Nine patients died.
According the report, "Ad14 isolates from all four states were identical by sequence data from the full hexon and fiber genes. However, the isolates were distinct from the Ad14 reference strain from 1955, suggesting the emergence and spread of a new Ad14 variant in the United States."
According to the report, "No epidemiologic evidence of direct transmission linking the New York case or any of the clusters was identified."
CDC officials say medical providers may want to explore testing for adenovirus or Ad14 in a patient with severe or worsening respiratory symptoms. They suggest that clinicians with questions related to testing of patients for adenovirus or Ad14 contact their state health department, which can provide assistance.
State health departments and military facilities are encouraged to contact CDC to report unusual clusters of severe adenoviral disease or cases of Ad14.