West Bengal: Sharp Spike in Adenovirus Cases Among Children, 2 Die of Suspected Infection; State on Alert

A sharp spike has been reported in adenovirus cases among children in West Bengal and the virus was detected in at least 32 per cent of samples of respiratory infections among children at ICMR-NICED. Pediatric wards in state-run and private hospitals across the state are reportedly filling up fast due to children suffering from respiratory infections, many of them suspected to be adenovirus. Two children — one six-month-old boy and a two-and a half-year-old girl — died on Sunday after battling respiratory infection suspected to have been caused by adenovirus, reported Times of India. Although the state health department has not yet released any data on the number of children affected or the death toll, officials said at least 32 per cent of the samples sent to the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases in Kolkata since January have tested positive, as per a Hindustan Times report.