United States – Officials in the United States warned that Parvovirus B19, a seasonal respiratory virus that went on break due to the pandemic, is now returning.
Seasonal Parvovirus B19 Reemerges Post-Pandemic
In a health alert issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency said it had received reports of higher test positivity rates in recent months: The number of individuals with antibodies suggesting recent infection, which stood at a low of below 3 percent in 2022-2024, more than tripled in June to 10 percent, as reported by HealthDay.
And children particularly school going kids aged between 5-9yr were the most affected with infections going up to 40% by June 2024 from 15% 2022-2024.
The United States isn’t the only country experiencing a surge in parvovirus cases: In June, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlighted that 14 European nations recorded abnormally elevated first-quarter incidences of parvovirus in 2024.
Parvovirus B19: Common but Serious
Parvovirus, also known as “slapped cheek disease” for the facial rash it can cause in children, is considered common: More than two-thirds of the participants had detectable B19 parvovirus antibody levels by the age of 20 years, and 70 percent had traces by the age of 40 years. Close contact with children increases the risk of infection, as the CDC reports it, in occupations like schools and daycare centers.
Similar to many other respiratory ailments, the measures encompassing physical distancing adopted during the COVID pandemic also reduced parvovirus B19 infection rates significantly.
It also meant that they lost their immunization against the virus, which, in the current world, has reflected the increasing disease rates in all parts of the country.
During the study, the CDC also identified increased case reports of pregnant individuals, including pregnancy complications like severe fetal anemia or miscarriage and a life-threatening form of anemia among patients with sickle cell disease.
What symptoms should one look out for IF he is infected with parvovirus B19?
Recognizing Parvovirus B19 Symptoms
In its current state, many individuals remain asymptomatic, but if infected, there are commonly two stages of the illness a person experiences, according to the CDC. The first one occurs about a week after the infection, and symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, and malaise. It lasts about five days and is when people are most infectious.
In the second stage of the disease, a child can experience a skin rash on the face and, later, a rash on the rest of the body or joint pain. An adult has a rash distributed all over the trunk and has joint pains.
But for some folks, parvovirus can cause severe complications: Individuals with sickle cell disease or those who have compromised immune systems tend to get aplastic anemia, a very serious and fatal type of blood problem. In pregnant people, it has been established that 5-10% of these cases may lead to anemia, hydrops fetalis or miscarriage.
As expected, in parvovirus, there is no treatment or vaccine either, and the CDC doesn’t recommend any for the same. However, the majority of infections are mild and can be resolved with supportive care only.
Preventive Measures and Recommendations
However, as cases increase, the CDC advises people to practice basic preventive measures for any respiratory illness, and these include washing their hands often, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing, as reported by HealthDay.
When you get signs of the infection, avoid contact with others until some of the signs disappear and you have no fever for 24 hours without using medication.
If pregnant or have a weakened immune system or have a chronic blood disorder, the CDC stated one may wish to wear a mask around others and should seek medical help immediately if one develops symptoms.