An uncommon, but resurgent and highly virulent strain of the cold virus, called adenovirus type 14 or Ad14, is spreading in the US and is causing severe and sometimes fatal respiratory illness, even in healthy adults. The virus has killed 10 people since May last year, when a 12 day old baby girl died from it in New York City. Between March and June 2007, there have been 140 confirmed cases of Ad14 in Oregon, Texas and Washington, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 53 of the patients (38 per cent) had to be hospitalized, 24 of whom were admitted to intensive care, of whom 9 patients died. The CDC said that the strain of Ad14 in all four states were genetically identical, but different to the one that spread in 1955, suggesting this is a new strain of an old virus. They have not found any link between the New York case and the outbreaks in the other four states. Also, an investigation by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has not found any other cases of Ad14 illnesses in the area. Investigations have been […]