Adenovirus

Facts for Prelims

Adenovirus

News: West Bengal is in the grip of an unprecedented adenovirus outbreak.

About:
 Adenoviruses (members of the family Adenoviridae) are medium-sized, non-enveloped (without an outer lipid bilayer) viruses with an icosahedral nucleocapsid containing a double-stranded DNA genome. Their name derives from their initial isolation from human adenoids in 1953.
 Adenovirus is highly contagious. Infections are common in close-contact settings, such as childcare centres, schools, hospitals, and summer camps.

Symptoms:
 Common cold, cough, sore throat, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, acute bronchitis, acute gastroenteritis.
 There is no specific treatment for an adenovirus infection — the route is largely one of providing supportive care.