The number of children infected with adenovirus is increasing in Kolkata

From the city of Calcutta in India to the district, hospitals everywhere are filled with children suffering from fever, cold and cough. In the background is the old familiar adenovirus.

But, doctors are also skeptical about why the virus suddenly became so deadly this year. But what is known about the characteristic changes of the virus? That is why this virus like Corona has created a virtual epidemic situation in children.

Health officials are also worried. On Saturday morning, Health Secretary Narayanswaroop Nigam held a meeting with chief health officers of all districts, principals of city medical colleges and health officials. NICED has already started trying to find out whether there is any genetic change through mutation of the adenovirus that returned after a couple of years. It is known that respiratory tract infections are monitored through the testing of samples sent to NICED from different hospitals of the state. Although it primarily monitors influenza and parainfluenza viruses, the respiratory tract panel has several other viruses that are tested for.

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A worrying picture emerges from the expected report. It is known that the infection rate of this virus was 22 percent in December, 30 percent in January and more than 30 percent tested till February 15.

NICED spokesperson Shanta Dutta said that the reason for the sudden outbreak of adenovirus in the state is not understood. Calls are coming from different hospitals. The genome of the virus is being sequenced to find out.

The worrying picture has emerged in that report of Naysed. It is known that adenovirus was 22 percent in December. In January, it was 30 percent and tests up to February 15 showed that adenovirus was present in more than 30 percent. Director Shanta Dutta said, "It is not understood why there is such a sudden outbreak of adenovirus in this state. Calls are coming from different hospitals. The adenovirus genome is being sequenced to find out.”

In Piku

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  Apart from general beds, the number of patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is also constantly increasing. In Piku, the number of children between one and two years is the highest. It was also informed in the meeting of the health building that the infrastructure that was built for the treatment of children during the Corona period in the state should be fully utilized. In order not to unnecessarily 'refer' a child, pressure is created on the city hospital. Samples should be sent daily to the School of Tropical Medicine. Health officer Siddharth Niyogi said, "There has been a renewed discussion on what to do to treat adenovirus patients, to control the situation."

A pediatrician at a hospital in the city said that children under 2 years of age are getting respiratory tract infections very quickly. Many are deteriorating so rapidly that ventilation or other artificial means are required to keep the patient alive. According to Shantanu Roy, a pediatrician at a private hospital in the city, the mutation is what makes adenovirus so contagious and deadly. Earlier, the incidence of lung damage from this virus was not high. This time it is more severe. Meningitis is also happening.
According to virologist Siddharth Jowardar, most of the people in the country as well as the state have taken KoviShield. Through this, chimpanzee's modified adenovirus 'vector virus' has entered the human body. In order to replicate (increase in number by dividing), Aparag is supposed to be involved in the production of the spike protein of the coronavirus from within the virus cell. Siddharth said, "Research is needed on whether this modified virus actually exists in the population today, but what is the relationship with the adenovirus that causes the common cold." Although the task is difficult, the genome sequence may provide the answer.