A new virus sweeping the world cannot be treated with the traditional methods of soap, water and disinfectants, a health expert has warned.
The adenovirus has been labeled as worse than the coronavirus or the flu, with similar symptoms including shortness of breath, a runny nose and a sore throat.
One major difference, however, is the lack of available treatments. Therefore, if you are infected, you may have to rely on your body’s immunity.
Fortunately, in most cases, adenovirus is quite mild. However, if you have a weakened immune system, just like with Covid or flu, symptoms can become more severe Mirror reports.
Jefferson Health’s medical director of infection prevention and control, Eric Sachinwalla, has warned that, unlike the conditions we are more familiar with, less can be done to actually treat the adenovirus.
Sachinwalla narrated PhillyMad: “It is quite contagious because it is heartier than other viruses. Soap and water, or an everyday disinfectant, will not kill it, so it tends to live longer in the environment.”
Adenovirus can have several symptoms, including shortness of breath, a runny nose, and a sore throat.
Other symptoms may include diarrhea or pink eye, but this is highly varied as there are more than 60 variants.
For the most part, Sachinwalla has made sure that you can control the adenovirus with peace of mind.
People who are more vulnerable, such as the elderly, pregnant women, or those with weakened immune systems, may want to monitor their symptoms more closely.
