CDC warns: Cases of the highly contagious parvovirus B19 are increasing
According to the Centers for Disease Control, cases of the highly contagious human parvovirus B19 are increasing.
Scripps News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a new warning about increasing cases of parvovirus B19, a highly contagious seasonal respiratory virus.
On Tuesday, the CDC issued a health alert to inform healthcare providers, public health authorities, and the public about the increase in activity of human parvovirus B19, also known as fifth disease, in the United States.
The virus could cause complications in certain people, such as during pregnancy, in people with weakened immune systems or in people with certain blood disorders.
This virus has been detected predominantly in Europe, where an unusually high number of cases of parvovirus B19 occurred in 14 countries in the first quarter of 2024.
Although there is no routine surveillance for parvovirus B19 in the United States, the CDC has recently received reports of increased activity, including an increase in positive tests, pooled plasma from large laboratories, and reports of clusters of virus-related complications in pregnant women and people with sickle cell anemia.
According to CDC:
- The number of people testing positive increased across all age groups from less than 3% in 2022 to $10 in June 2024
- The largest increase was among children ages 5 to 9, from 15% between 2022 and 2024 to 40% in June 2024.
- Among plasma donors, the prevalence of the virus increased from 1.5% in December 2023 to 19.9% in June 2024.
Here’s what you need to know about Tennessee:
How contagious is parvovirus B19 and how does it spread?
Parvovirus B19 is a seasonal respiratory virus transmitted through respiratory droplets from people with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection, the CDC health alert says.
For susceptible individuals, the risk of infection through contact within their own household is 50%, and in outbreaks in schools, the risk of infection between susceptible students and staff is 20-50%.
Traditionally, students and people who work in school or in close proximity to children have been at higher occupational risk of infection.
The infection can be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy and through blood plasma and blood component transfusions, although the risk of infection through transfusions is extremely low.
According to the CDC, the risk of adverse outcomes for the fetus is typically 5–10% and is highest when acute infection occurs between 9 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
In people with immunosuppression, the virus can cause chronic or transient aplastic anemia.
During the first week of infection, humans are more contagious. The virus is not transmissible from animals to humans, although animals have their own parvoviruses.
What are the symptoms of a parvovirus B19 infection
Signs of infection include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Skin rashes
- Joint pain
The first phase of infection is characterized by signs such as fever, muscle aches and malaise, which usually appear within a week of infection and last for about five days.
The second phase of infection occurs approximately 7–10 days after the first phase. Children show signs of a facial rash, which may be followed by a body rash or joint pain approximately 1–4 days later. In immunocompetent adults, symptoms typically appear during the second phase.
The rash usually only appears when the viral load decreases.
What treatment options are there for parvovirus B19?
There is neither a vaccine nor a treatment against the virus itself.
According to Medscape, about 60% of adults by age 30 are immune to parvovirus B19, although few can remember having had the infection.
The CDC recommends practicing good hygiene, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, washing your hands frequently, and frequently cleaning frequently touched objects.
The disease usually goes away on its own and healthy people are likely to make a full recovery. Treatment consists of relieving the symptoms caused by the infection.
If you notice complications after an infection or if you became infected during pregnancy, you should contact and consult a doctor.
USA TODAY contributed to this report
