Everything you need to know about adenovirus amid reports the infection is ‘worse than Covid and flu’
10:26, 22 Dec 2025Updated 10:26, 22 Dec 2025
Adenoviruses are common and typically cause mild symptoms(Image: Getty Images)
Recent reports suggest an ‘untreatable’ disease is sweeping the globe, with headlines warning of a new and mysterious virus. The culprit? Adenovirus – but is it really anything to worry about?
Adenoviruses are a well-known family of viruses that researchers have studied for decades, so the virus itself isn’t new. Like all viruses, adenoviruses undergo mutation and genetic changes over time, with new strains and variants appearing every so often – but this doesn’t mean an entirely new virus has suddenly appeared.
While some reports suggest the virus is ‘sweeping the globe’, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stresses that adenovirus cases are reported throughout the year, but the virus can spread more easily in winter. While some countries or regions may be seeing a spike in infections this winter, it doesn’t necessarily indicate something unusual.
In fact, the latest UKHSA data shows adenovirus cases are going down in England, with lab positivity dropping from 1.7 per cent to 1.2 per cent in the week ending December 14. The highest positivity was recorded in those aged under five years, at 5.7 per cent.
Adenovirus is not a new or mysterious virus(Image: Getty Images)How serious is adenovirus?
Adenovirus causes a wide range of symptoms similar to those of a common cold, according to the UKHSA. It says the virus typically causes mild, cold-like illnesses in people of all ages.
The Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust says the viral infection should get better on its own, but may last for up to six to eight weeks. Symptoms include common cold or flu-like symptoms, including fever, as well as:
Sore throatJaw painGritty sensation and watering eyes
Adenovirus can cause a sore throat(Image: Getty Images)
The infection can also be severe in the elderly, young children or those with weak immune systems, potentially causing more rare symptoms such as bladder inflammation or neurologic disease, affecting the brain and spinal cord, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Is adenovirus ‘untreatable’?
Recent reports have also suggested that adenovirus is ‘untreatable’. While the CDC says there are ‘no approved antiviral medicines or specific treatments’, symptoms of adenovirus can be managed with rest, fluids and over-the-counter painkillers.
While cases of adenovirus remain low in the UK, other winter viruses – flu and norovirus – are on the rise. Health officials advise everyone to take simple steps to reduce your risk of getting or spreading winter viruses, including adenovirus.
The UKHSA advises catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, regular handwashing, and opening a window when meeting others indoors. It also urges anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms to stay at home or consider wearing a face mask in public.