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What is the News?
The World Health Organization(WHO) has said that 348 probable cases of hepatitis in children potentially linked to adenovirus have been reported from 20 countries across five global regions.
What is Hepatitis?
What are Adenoviruses?
Adenoviruses are a group of common viruses that infect the lining of your eyes, airways and lungs, intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system.
The virus usually causes fever, respiratory illness (cough, cold, sore throat), gastroenteritis (stomach inflammation) and conjunctivitis (red eyes).
Vulnerable Group: Adenovirus infections happen in children more often than in adults, but anyone can get them. Most kids will have at least one type of adenovirus infection by the time they’re 10.
Types: There are many different types of adenoviruses, so people can get infected more than once. These viruses also don’t have a “season” like other viruses (the flu, for example), so infections can happen at any time of the year.
Transmission: Adenovirus infections spread from one person to another through surfaces, close contact and respiratory droplets.
Treatment: Infections are mild, and they typically get better on their own.
Scientists have used modified adenoviruses to build other vaccines such as those that protect against COVID-19.
Source: The post is based on the article “Adenoviruses: The Mystery of an Unknown Bug, Sick Kids” published in Livemint on 12th May 2022.
