New virus surge with triple Covid and ‘slap disease’ outbreak

As summer approaches, Asturias is experiencing a surge in respiratory infections, which doctors and epidemiologists attribute to the “cold weather of recent weeks.” Despite the fact that spring is already in full swing, cases of type B influenza continue to be recorded, mainly in children, and the number of Covid infections is growing again, which tripled in the first half of May, which is in epidemiological agreement with what is happening in the rest of the world. countries. Spain.

To prevent “any anomalous situations or rare strains” from occurring in the health system, those responsible for public health and microbiology in the Principality are in fact being more vigilant as Covid-19 cases rise. The existing cases, as seen from the laboratory studies carried out, originate from new mutations of Omicrom, the coronavirus variant that caused the epidemic waves of 2022 and which has now turned into “pirola” and “flirt”.

This family name includes a group of viral strains scientifically identified as KP and XDK, which were first discovered in the United States and are now becoming prevalent in several countries. Some experts speculate that these new sublineages could fuel the spread of coronaviruses in the summer. But “there is no reason to be afraid,” say sources at the Principality’s Health Service (Sespa), which is now fighting Covid-19 peaks like the flu or any other respiratory pathogen.

However, the resurgence of the virus in May is not only due to the coronavirus. Asturian microbiological services have also detected an outbreak of parvovirus in the region, which causes the so-called “slapped cheek disease”, since its most characteristic symptom is a red rash on the cheek. It is a highly contagious pathology typical of childhood, which “we are now finding in middle-aged adults.”

Parvovirus symptoms

In children, it usually causes fever, upset stomach, runny nose and headache. However, in adults, the most noticeable symptom of parvovirus infection is joint pain, which can last for weeks and mainly affects the hands, knees and ankles. In both cases, the disease usually proceeds without complications. Yes, doctors warn that it is a concern for pregnant women because “parvovirus can cause problems in the fetus.”

The number of infections caused by adenovirus (with cold symptoms) and enterovirus has also increased. “The latter can develop meningitis in children,” say Asturian health experts, who note “an increase in upper and lower respiratory tract infections with a strong, prolonged cough and some complications associated with pneumonia.” Although Asturias is returning to infection positivity rates very close to those recorded in late winter and early spring, at the moment there is “no saturation of medical care” either in emergency consultations or in primary care.