Adenoviruses flourish year-round, nursing homes at risk
by Michael Hedges, AARP Bulletin, March 2018
Bugs known as adenoviruses can cause symptoms similar to influenza: fever, headache, body aches and breathing problems.
A virus that mimics the symptoms of the flu and may be just as dangerous, especially to older people, is being misdiagnosed and underreported.
The bugs are adenoviruses, and an outbreak can cause symptoms similar to influenza: fever, headache, body aches and breathing problems. Unlike the flu, adenoviruses aren’t seasonal. They thrive in places where people are close together, such as long-term care facilities, says a report in Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Many respiratory infections transmit easily in this kind of environment and can take a toll,” said the report’s lead author, Adriana Kajon of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in Albuquerque, N.M.
In 2006, three people at a long-term care facility in Boston died from an adenovirus. But the CDC says that for people with healthy immune systems, the viruses aren’t usually dangerous. A vaccine has been licensed for military use, but it isn’t available to civilians. Kajon said it should be more widely available. “This is a vaccine-preventable disease.”
That last sentence just "fries" me. Why is the vaccine not available to all?
from CDC: " A vaccine against adenovirus types 4 and 7 was given to U.S. military recruits from 1971 to 1999, but the manufacturer stopped producing the vaccine in 1999. A new live, oral vaccine against adenovirus types 4 and 7 was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2011 for U.S. military personnel 17 through 50 years old. The vaccine is recommended by the U.S. Department of Defense for military recruits entering basic training in order to prevent acute respiratory disease. For more information about the vaccine, see: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/adenovirus.html ref: https://www.cdc.gov/adenovirus/hcp/prevention-treatment.html"
That being the case, I shall not pursue a live vaccine.
had to change browsers to access this message. IE did not cooperate.
wrote to the COPD Coalition but did not find a way to contact Mr Crapo directly.
Great work Petra. The only way we'll ever get anything done is to be proactive.
If Mr. Crapo is Michael Dean Crapo of Idaho, he is the incumbent Senator.
There are untold millions besides us COPDers that have compromised immune systems.
Thank you so much for your efforts; maybe, just maybe.....
Don, I wrote to the vaccine site I found on CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/contact.html
I filled out the first form ( CDC-INFO "vaccinations" inquiry form) and completed all sections listed AFTER
I made my comments about the need for the release of this vaccine for all people with compromised respiratory systems and compromised immune systems, and also others at risk,i.e. nursing homes. I gave all my persoNal info too. They need to know who I am so they can contact me. I don't feel threatened by CDC -LOL. Plan to write to Mr Crapo to. Don't know if he is still in congress, but he heads up the COPD Coalition, which is supposed to be lobbying for our interests.
You said a license has been issued for military use; perhaps the FDA are the ones to contact. I'm not big on politics so I really don't know. Obviously the CDC has their hands in it too. There are untold millions whose immune system is compromised; why does just the military get the vaccine???
this adenovirus is not something that can be treated on an out-patient basis, as I understand it. It is a SERIOUS virus. We need to be writing letters to the appropriate persons to find out why this vaccine is being withheld. I have no clue as to where to start. Does anyone know to whom we should address our concerns. I thought about CDC,but do not know which department or person to contact.
I was taking a prescription which was supposed to be the same thing as Singulair called Montelusk (sp) then she gave me another that was more expensive cannot tell that it has done anything it ends with lusk on it also and starts with a Z. I am not buying it anymore , and may just try the over the counter Singulair I guess you can buy over the counter........I coughed up a big chunk of mucus the other day and for the last two days I have been doing better . ( I am not counting on it staying that way though.) More of a pessimest I guess.
Maybe Audrey needs to do another roll call not even sure if that would work with the lack of participation.
Sandy: I tried the Quercetin/Bromelain but it didn't seem to do much. It is also good for a bunch of other stuff so I'll continue to take it.
Long ago I was prescribed Singulair; not sure why but I started taking it again the other night and it seemed to work great. I had stopped taking it because of the headaches but I took it with a high dose of ibuprofen and no headache. It's supposed to work on year-round allergies like hay fever amongst other stuff. Lets hope.
I have found that the supplement by Now products Quercetin with Bromalain and a nasal prescription
Ipratropium bromide nasal solution helps as much for my post nasal drip and allergies as anything .
yes they should have a vaccine for that other virus.
Audrey, if a vaccine exists, it should be available for all who want it. I want it and all COPD patients need it.
Don, chances are she picked it up on the airplane. They are really nasty places !!!
Petra: The symptoms sound a lot like what we in my house are suffering; mostly what appears to be post-nasal drip or a sinus infection. We have had it since around the middle of December.......that's a LONG time.
I think it began with my MIL who came here from Puerto Rico after the hurricane devastated the island. My wife and I soon got it but not our daughter who is only 19 years old. (a long story).
Good question Petra. The vaccine should at least be given to the long term care facilities.