Killer Colds
Mutated bug causes concern across the country
By Bobbi Mlynar
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Among the smorgasbord of viruses, one cold virus is worrying health care professionals at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
“There’s lots of different viruses, cold viruses — there’s over 200 of them,” said Renee Hively, public health manager for the Flint Hills Community Health Center.
According to a CDC report, an old cold virus has mutated into a new, virulent form named “adenovirus type 14” or Ad14.
A total of 141 confirmed cases and 10 deaths have been reported in New York, Oregon, Washington and Texas. A 12-day-old infant died in May 2006 in New York City; the remainder of the cases were reported in 2007. Ad14 made news earlier this year when hundreds of airmen became sick at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. One 19-year-old died from the virus at boot camp there. As a result, CDC officials said the military will bring back an adenovirus vaccine, administered as a pill, that was given to recruits from 1971 to 1999. So far, no cases have been reported here.
An Associated Press article in November quoted a CDC epidemiologist as saying that the mutated virus is not considered a cause for alarm.
“It’s an uncommon infection,” Dr. Larry Anderson was quoted as saying.
The CDC recommended that parents watch children’s colds carefully.
“Any child with a severe cold should be taken to a doctor or nurse,” according to information on the CDC Web site. Adults, too, need to seek medical attention if they have a severe cold that does not improve or keeps getting worse.
Diagnosis of Ad14 can be made through testing. In the meantime, Hively said, area residents need to take precautions to prevent spreading or catching not only Ad14, but other colds and influenza viruses.
“The same theories are going to apply, as far as ways to stop the cold,” Hively said. “ … It just seems to me that people should be on heightened alert. … Any cold virus can turn into a more complicated problem, as far as sinus infection, respiratory symptoms.”
Common colds also can lead to bacterial infections in the middle ear. The more serious symptoms often need to be treated with antibiotics. Hively said that handwashing is the easiest way to help stop the spread of colds.
“That’s the oldest and the simplest prevention method you can do,” she said.
She recommended wiping down surfaces of objects, like door knobs, telephone receivers and stair rails, with antibacterial wipes. Viruses can survive up to three hours on objects.
“You think of how many people open the doors,” she said, commending Newman Regional Health and the doctors’ offices there for installing automatic doors. By doing so, they have eliminated one possible source of passing on viruses.
Covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing, and carrying a small container of “waterless” antibacterial fluid for handwashing also can help keep viruses away.
“Any time you have a nice winter day, you probably should open your house and let it air out a little bit,” Hively said. “Get a little ventilation through and push those bad germs out.”
Despite precautions, however, cold viruses do work their way past the best defenses. Hively said that statistics show children have about six to 10 colds per year, and the average adult has two to four.
“Colds can last up to 14 days, but if you continue to have problems after that, I always tell patients it’s time to follow up with your own physician to make sure there’s nothing more serious going on,” she said.
If you do catch cold, Hively provided the following tips:
- Stay home and avoid infecting co-workers
- Rest in bed
- Use throat sprays
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Use a nasal spray if nostrils are feeling dry from the heated air inside
And even miserable colds can bring warm memories years later. Hively relived one of her own, talking about her grandmother who always found ways to make her and her siblings feel better, if only in spirit.
“When we got colds, she would rub our feet with mentholatum, put socks on them, cover us up with one of her crocheted blankets, and it worked wonders,” Hively recalled fondly. “I don’t know if there’s scientific evidence … ”
Proper hand washing
The Flint Hills Community Health Center offered the following tips for washing hands during Hand Washing Awareness Week, which runs through Saturday:
- Roll up long sleeves, wet hands with warm water and apply liquid or clean bar soap.
- Rub hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces.
- Continue to scrub for about 20 seconds.
- Rinse from wrists to fingertips without shaking hands.
- Dry hands with clean, dry towel or paper towel.
- If in a public rest room, use a paper towel to open door.
Make sure you wash hands:
- After coughing or sneezing or blowing your nose.
- Before, during and after preparing food.
- Before eating and after using the bathroom.
- When hands are dirty.
- More frequently when with someone who is sick.
— The Emporia Gazette
hottopics (anonymous) says...
I have heard and its true. Putting Vicks Vapor rub on your feet will quiet a cough. Try it next time. Who knows why it works but it beats putting it on your nose or chest to breath.
December 5, 2007 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )