Adenovirus infections spreading across Bengal – Health Department issues guidelines
Adenovirus infections have been spreading among children across Bengal in recent days. The infections have been decimating Kolkata since January and now are spreading across the state.
As per media reports, 12 children have already succumbed across the state, including a spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2-affected 13-year-old girl on Wednesday, who had received the President’s Prize in 2019 for her exceptional musical accomplishments. Immuno-compromised people are at particular risk.
A Health Department meeting on Saturday discussed the guidelines to be adopted to combat this new menace.
Unfortunately, there are no specific antiviral medicines and there is no specific treatment, so prevention is the best cure.
At the meeting, it was revealed that nearly 30 per cent of the 500 samples sent to ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata were positive for the adenovirus.
Officials were instructed to boost surveillance and monitoring, and be quick in spotting the infections among youngsters. Hospitals were asked to be ready with extra beds and ensure adequate oxygen supply, among other things.
Washing hands with soap or using sanitisers, and avoiding touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands are the best tips for preventing infection, as discussed at the meeting.
Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that typically cause respiratory illnesses, such as cold or flu, fever, sore throat, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, bronchitis and gastroenteritis. However, people with weak immune systems, existing respiratory or cardiac diseases are at a risk of developing severe illness. They usually affect children.
Transmission is by close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; coughing and sneezing;
touching an object or surface with adenoviruses on it and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes; through an infected person’s stool, for example, during diaper changing; and also, though less common, through water, such as through swimming pools.
