Parvovirus cases on the rise in humans: CDC

A SEASONAL RESPIRATORY VIRUS THAT HASN’T BEEN MUCH OF AN ISSUE SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS ON THE RISE ONCE AGAIN.

THE C-D-C HAS ISSUED A HEALTH ALERT OVER HUMAN PARVO-VIRUS – MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS PARVO. 

THAT NAME MIGHT SOUND MORE FAMILIAR TO DOG OWNERS.

IT’S ONE OF THE MOST CONTAGIOUS ILLNESSES AMONG CANINES… SO MUCH SO, THE PARVO VACCINE IS INCLUDED IN THEIR REGULAR IMMUNIZATIONS. 

BUT, PARVO CAN BE A HUMAN ILLNESS TOO… AND THE C-D-C SAYS IT’S BEEN GETTING MORE REPORTS OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE FOR THIS VARIANT OF THE VIRUS LATELY.

PARVO IS SPREAD THROUGH RESPIRATORY DROPLETS… AND ADULTS ARE USUALLY SAFE FROM IT BECAUSE THEY HAD IT WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER AND BUILT UP ANTIBODIES TO IT.

THE C-D-C SAYS PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN – LIKE IN SCHOOLS OR DAYCARES – ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR INFECTION. 

THE AGENCY SAYS IT’S BEEN GETTING MORE REPORTS OF PARVO AMONG PREGNANT PEOPLE… LEADING TO COMPLICATIONS LIKE SEVERE FETAL ANEMIA OR MISCARRIAGE – AND INCREASES IN APLASTIC ANEMIA IN PEOPLE WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE. 

MOST PEOPLE WITH PARVO *DON’T* SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS, BUT IF YOU DO – THE C-D-C SAYS YOU’LL LIKELY NOTICE TWO PHASES.

ABOUT A WEEK AFTER INFECTION – YOU MIGHT HAVE A FEVER, MUSCLE ACHES, OR JUST ON OVERALL ICKY FEELING.

THE C-D-C SAYS THIS TIME IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE MOST CONTAGIOUS AND IT USUALLY LASTS AROUND FIVE DAYS. 

THEN, IN SECOND PHASE OF THE ILLNESS – CHILDREN USUALLY DEVELOP A HALLMARK FACIAL RASH OFTEN CALLED A “SLAPPED CHEEK RASH” FOLLOWED BY A BODY RASH OR JOINT PAIN. 

ADULTS OFTEN HAVE A RASH ON THEIR TORSO AND BACK – AND JOINT PAIN. 

THERE’S NO *HUMAN* VACCINE FOR PARVO, NOR IS THERE A SPECIFIC TREATMENT OTHER THAN EASING SYMPTOMS.

THE C-D-C SAYS MOST INFECTIONS WILL CLEAR UP ON THEIR OWN.