Adenovirus serotype 14
Encyclopedia
Adenovirus serotype 14 (Ad14) is a serovar of adenovirus which, unlike other adenovirus serovars, is known to cause potentially fatal adenovirus infection
s. According to the United States
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), as of September 2007, outbreaks have been identified in four states with ten identified deaths since May 2006.
. However, the isolates were distinct from the 1955 Ad14 reference strain. This suggests that a new Ad14 variant is emerging and spreading in the United States.
, Oregon
, Washington, and Texas
. Of these patients, 53 were hospitalized, 24 of whom were admitted to intensive care unit
s. In all reported cases, the isolated Ad14 strain was found to be genetically identical.
New York
The first death was that of a 12-day-old girl, born full-term and healthy, in New York in May 2006. Ad14 was isolated from postmortem swabs. No connection has been made between this case and cases in other states.
Texas
In February 2007, an outbreak of acute respiratory infections with fever
was reported among trainees at Lackland Air Force Base
(LAFB) in San Antonio. Of patients tested, 268 were positive for adenovirus. Of 118 serotyped patients, 106 (90%) were identified as Ad14. A total of 27 patients were hospitalized, one of whom, a nineteen-year-old Airman Basic
, Paige Villers, died in the ICU.. as of April of 2009 another airman has died of this virus
Steadily declining numbers of cases continued to be reported at LAFB through November 2007, with only 39 positive for Ad14 that month. Cases have also been reported from three other Texas military bases, but no positive connection has been made with the cases at LAFB.
Oregon
In early April 2007, 17 patients were reported to have been admitted at an Oregon hospital for severe pneumonia
within the past month. Samples from 15 of these were positive for Ad14. The Oregon Public Health Division later identified samples from 31 patients from November 2006 to ? as positive for Ad14. Oregon reported a total of seven Ad14 deaths.
Washington
In the Washington cases, four cases of Ad14 infection were reported. All the patients were smokers
between the ages of 40 and 62. Three suffered from lung disease
and the fourth had AIDS
; the latter patient later died.
Adenovirus infection
Adenovirus infections most commonly cause illness of the respiratory system; however, depending on the infecting serotype, they may also cause various other illnesses and presentations.-Resultant illnesses and presentations:...
s. According to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
(CDC), as of September 2007, outbreaks have been identified in four states with ten identified deaths since May 2006.
Characteristics
Ad14 is a rare emerging virus that can cause severe respiratory infection, which can sometimes be fatal, even in healthy young adults. Ad14 isolates from all four states where outbreaks occurred were identical, based on DNA sequencingDNA sequencing
DNA sequencing includes several methods and technologies that are used for determining the order of the nucleotide bases—adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine—in a molecule of DNA....
. However, the isolates were distinct from the 1955 Ad14 reference strain. This suggests that a new Ad14 variant is emerging and spreading in the United States.
Reported illnesses
At least 140 illnesses have been caused by Ad14 in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, Washington, and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Of these patients, 53 were hospitalized, 24 of whom were admitted to intensive care unit
Intensive Care Unit
thumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
s. In all reported cases, the isolated Ad14 strain was found to be genetically identical.
New York
The first death was that of a 12-day-old girl, born full-term and healthy, in New York in May 2006. Ad14 was isolated from postmortem swabs. No connection has been made between this case and cases in other states.
Texas
In February 2007, an outbreak of acute respiratory infections with fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
was reported among trainees at Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
(LAFB) in San Antonio. Of patients tested, 268 were positive for adenovirus. Of 118 serotyped patients, 106 (90%) were identified as Ad14. A total of 27 patients were hospitalized, one of whom, a nineteen-year-old Airman Basic
Airman Basic
Airman Basic is the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force , immediately below Airman. The pay grade for Airman Basic is E-1.As opposed to all other USAF enlisted and officer ranks, Airman Basic has no rank insignia affiliated...
, Paige Villers, died in the ICU.. as of April of 2009 another airman has died of this virus
Steadily declining numbers of cases continued to be reported at LAFB through November 2007, with only 39 positive for Ad14 that month. Cases have also been reported from three other Texas military bases, but no positive connection has been made with the cases at LAFB.
Oregon
In early April 2007, 17 patients were reported to have been admitted at an Oregon hospital for severe pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
within the past month. Samples from 15 of these were positive for Ad14. The Oregon Public Health Division later identified samples from 31 patients from November 2006 to ? as positive for Ad14. Oregon reported a total of seven Ad14 deaths.
Washington
In the Washington cases, four cases of Ad14 infection were reported. All the patients were smokers
Smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them...
between the ages of 40 and 62. Three suffered from lung disease
Respiratory disease
Respiratory disease is a medical term that encompasses pathological conditions affecting the organs and tissues that make gas exchange possible in higher organisms, and includes conditions of the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura and pleural cavity, and the...
and the fourth had AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
; the latter patient later died.
External links
- AP: CDC: New Respiratory Bug Has Killed 10 MIKE STOBBE 15 November 2007
- WebMD: Killer Cold Virus Appears in U.S. Daniel J. DeNoon 15 November 2007