United States: Another respiratory infection is going around as healthcare workers are getting ready for the upcoming flu season.
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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) posted a health alert on August 13, citing rising cases of human parvovirus B19 in the United States.
These include parvovirus, which is added that the alert is a respiratory virus that spreads through droplets and is seasonal. That significantly reduces the viability of airborne transmission and means that it’s constantly transmitting in droplets.
The CDC says around 50 percent of people are infected after household exposure to contagious droplets, and between 20 and 50 percent of exposed students and staff are infected by school outbreaks.
From the alert, European doctors saw clinical cases of parvovirus increasing after testing negative for COVID, RSV, and Influenza. A conspicuous increase in the number of incidents discovered in the United States also occurred.
About various symptoms
In several cases, there are no symptoms of parvovirus; however, there is often a fever with cough in some of the cases.
In the late stages of this infection, some people, especially children, will develop a characteristic facial rash; hence, this version of parvovirus is sometimes referred to as “slapped cheek” disease.
Still, Dr. Douglas Kasper, a physician at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, noted that parvovirus is a moderate infection for most.
According to him, “You may become ill for a short period of time, and you would have a likely resolution with just rest and hydration and nutrition,” and “Nothing would be done.”
Nevertheless, there are potential negative influences for some specific groups of people, as described below. Mainly the individuals with weakened immunity, sickle cell anemia, pregnant women, and anyone whose immunity is lowered.
Moreover, as Kasper said, “The reason is that the viral infection can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus,” and “And in that context, again, there is no direct treatment that, if that is the case, you know, the woman would get, nor the fetus would get any antiviral or something like that.”
According to Kasper, what happens in these circumstances is that obstetric physicians need to watch the fetus carefully so that the infection does not cause any other worse consequences.
Kasper continues that, while it is seasonal, parvovirus is rarely diagnosed or even tested for, let alone reported to the IDPH. As of now, this CDC alert is in place, which means doctors will think of parvovirus if tests for seasonal infections such as flu and RSV prove negative.
He said, “It’s not something that the hospitals are huddling or reporting numbers or the micro labs are, you know, spitting out data about,” as nprillinois.org reported.
“But, I have a feeling you will hear more about people testing for it now because they’re on the lookout for it to exist,” he continued.
According to Kasper, the way to avoid the transmission of parvovirus, especially when other contagious diseases that are common during winter approaches, is by regularly washing hands.
“This is just another reminder about the importance of trying to protect yourself and your family unit,” he added.