A new ‘untreatable’ mystery virus stronger than Covid is spreading across the globe – as one expert warns even disinfectant won’t get rid of it. Adenovirus exhibits similar symptoms to a serious flu, including shortness of breath, a runny nose, and a sore throat.
However, one stark difference is the lack of treatments available. Therefore, if you are unfortunate enough to pick it up, you may just have to tough it out. Fortunately, in most cases, adenovirus is fairly mild. However, as with covid or flu, if you are immunocompromised then symptoms could become more serious, the Mirror reports.
Jefferson Health’s medical director of infection prevention and control, Eric Sachinwalla, has warned that, unlike conditions we are more familiar with, there is less that can be done to actually treat adenovirus.
Adenovirus is tougher than flu or covid, which can be stopped with things like soap and water and disinfectant -Credit:Getty
Sachinwalla told PhillyMad: “It’s pretty contagious because it’s heartier than other viruses – soap and water, or everyday disinfectant, won’t kill it, so it tends to live in the environment longer.”
Adenovirus can have several symptoms, including shortness of breath, a runny nose, and a sore throat. Other symptoms might include diarrhoea or pink eye, but this is highly varied as there are over 60 strains.
For the most part, Sachinwalla says that you can manage adenovirus with rest. However, people who would be more vulnerable, such as the elderly, pregnant, or immunocompromised, may want to keep a closer eye on their symptoms.
He added that if someone’s condition is worsening, then you should call ahead to check the symptoms.
This is because the condition is spread through close contact, and the medic would be able to assess whether the risk to the patient was greater than the risk of that contact.
Sachinwalla advised that a big thing to watch for is temperature. If the fever takes the body temperature to 40 Celsius then he advises that this is more serious.
Typically, symptoms should begin to subside after approximately two days. However, if they persist for longer than three days without any relief, then this is also a red flag.
The medic explained that a surge in flu cases in the southern hemisphere earlier in the year may have led to a rise in cases in the northern hemisphere now. He added that there is also the factor of fewer people going for a flu jab.