Content from Harvard Medical School

Mutant Cold Virus Kills 10

A mutant cold virus has killed 10 people in the last 18 months, U.S. health officials say. The germ is a mutant version of an adenovirus. This type of virus is one cause of the common cold. It also can cause other respiratory problems. The mutant virus has made at least 140 people sick in four states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report on the virus. The Associated Press wrote about it November 15.

What Is the Doctor's Reaction?

Many different viruses cause colds. The rhinovirus family causes most colds -- about 4 out of 10. Another virus group that causes colds is the one discussed in this article, the adenovirus group.

More than 50 types of adenoviruses cause illness in people. Adenoviruses cause respiratory infections, including the common cold. They can cause other problems as well.

The common cold is usually a mild illness, and gets better without treatment. Most people think of a cold as a nuisance, not as an infection that can kill. The average person in this country gets one to three colds each year.

Yet now we learn that a common cold virus has mutated into a very dangerous bug. The strain is called "mutated Ad14." The mutated, or changed, form of Ad14 adenovirus was first identified last year. That's when it caused the death of a New York City infant.

Since then, the new virus has been shown to be the cause of at least 140 illnesses around the country. In Texas, some healthy young people at a military base who got infected needed hospital treatment. Some even needed intensive care. One died. It turns out that the mutated Ad14 was responsible for the most serious cases.

Around the country, at least 10 people have died from this strain of the virus.

There is no real treatment available for adenoviruses. Doctors tend to treat symptoms only. People are given fluids and advised to rest. They also may get medicines for fever, aches and pains. So a new strain of virus that causes very serious illness is definitely worrisome.

What Changes Can I Make Now?

People usually know when they have a common cold. The may develop a mild sore throat, runny nose, stuffy head and sneezing. Most people do not need to see a doctor for a cold.

You can catch a cold virus several different ways. One way is by hand-to-hand contact with another person. The virus on someone's hand is passed to the other person's hand. Then the virus can be spread to the nose or eyes. You also can breathe in virus particles after someone with a cold has coughed or sneezed near you.

What can you do to prevent getting colds?

• Wash your hands often, or use an alcohol-based cleaner.
• Try to avoid close contact with people who have colds and are coughing or sneezing.
• Don't count on zinc, vitamin C or echinacea to prevent a cold or shorten symptoms if you do get a cold. Research has not shown any benefit.

What if you do get a cold?

• Drink fluids and get plenty of rest. You might want to try over-the-counter cold medicines to relieve congestion or cough.
• If develop a high fever, ear pain, sinus pain or trouble breathing, contact your doctor. You may have developed a second infection, or the cold may have caused a flare-up of asthma or another problem.
• Do not take antibiotics for a cold. They don't help. They don't even shorten the time you are sick. Antibiotics have no effect against viruses.

What Can I Expect Looking to the Future?

Because many viruses cause colds, scientists have not been able to develop a vaccine to prevent them. However, if this new and deadly virus variant spreads more widely, a vaccine against it may be developed. Government agencies will need to keep track of cases to see if this virus is becoming a bigger threat.

More research is also needed to try to understand how a small change (mutation) can make a virus much more dangerous. Better understanding might allow new ways to prevent or treat infections.

- Added to Medpedia December 2008