Parvovirus B19 growing in US, CDC warns. What are the signs?
Extra individuals within the U.S. have turn into contaminated with a extremely transmissible seasonal respiratory virus that may pose critical dangers to pregnant ladies and folks with blood problems, well being officers say.
Parvovirus B19 is transmitted by way of droplets from symptomatic individuals and from contaminated individuals who don’t present any indicators of an infection. The virus seems to be spreading this summer season primarily based on a spread of proof, blood plasma samples and anecdotal experiences, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention stated Tuesday, issuing a broad warning to well being care suppliers, well being companies and the general public.
In its alert, CDC officers stated the proportion of people that examined constructive for antibodies − an indicator of latest an infection − elevated throughout all ages, from lower than 3% having immunity from 2022 to earlier in 2024, to 10% of individuals in June. The best enhance has been amongst kids ages 5 to 9. In plasma donors, the samples confirmed the prevalence of the virus DNA jumped from 1.5% in December to 19.9% in June. The CDC famous there have been growing experiences of problems amongst pregnant ladies and folks with sickle cell illness. In Europe, greater than a dozen nations additionally noticed “unusually excessive numbers of circumstances” of parvovirus B19 within the first quarter of 2024, CDC’s alert stated.
Parvovirus B19 is very infectious. Half of the individuals uncovered in a single family can turn into contaminated, the CDC stated. Related numbers are seen at colleges amongst college students and workers throughout outbreaks. For many, the an infection is delicate. Signs embrace fever, headache, cough and sore throat, the CDC stated. Widespread indicators is usually a fever or flu-like signs adopted by a reddish “slapped cheek” rash in kids. Adults can develop painful and swollen joints that often final one to a few weeks.
Parvovirus B19 could cause extreme drops in blood depend, or anemia, for individuals with blood problems or weakened immune methods. These at better threat embrace individuals with leukemia or different cancers, organ transplant recipients, individuals with HIV, and blood problems equivalent to sickle cell and thalassemia. Extreme outcomes are uncommon. They embrace myocarditis, or irritation of the center muscle, encephalitis, or swelling of the mind, and hepatitis.
In pregnant ladies, the virus can unfold to infants. In uncommon circumstances, this may trigger a miscarriage.
The U.S. doesn’t have routine surveillance for parvovirus B19, neither is it a notifiable situation. There isn’t any vaccine or really useful therapy. Prior an infection is assumed to offer lifelong immunity, the Mayo Clinic stated. Folks can stop an infection by hand-washing and avoiding touching their faces or sharing meals. Carrying a masks may also scale back the chance of unfold, as with different respiratory diseases.
