Atlanta, GA — December 19, 2024 — A new study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a significant decline in the reporting of human adenovirus (HAdV) types since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study, led by Fatima Abdirizak, M.P.H., and colleagues from the CDC, analyzed data from the National Adenovirus Type Reporting System (NATRS) spanning from 2017 to 2023. The researchers found that while the number of HAdV specimens with typing results varied each year before the pandemic, reporting decreased markedly in the years following 2020. The annual number of reported specimens dropped from a range of 389 to 562 between 2017 and 2019 to between 58 and 356 during the years 2020 to 2023.
Human adenoviruses are responsible for a range of illnesses, from mild respiratory infections to more severe conditions like gastroenteritis and hepatitis. Despite the decreased reporting, the study confirmed continued circulation of HAdVs through passive laboratory surveillance.
The analysis identified six specific HAdV types (types 1 to 4, 7, and 14) that accounted for 88.3 percent of the reported specimens over the seven-year period. Notably, during 2021 and 2022, there was an increase in type 41 reporting, which was associated with a cluster of hepatitis cases.
The study also highlighted that 17 percent of the specimens reported were linked to outbreaks, underscoring the continued relevance of adenovirus surveillance. However, researchers noted that enhanced laboratory capacity to identify and track HAdVs and improvements in reporting practices could better inform public health strategies and improve the national understanding of these viruses’ circulation patterns.
“Expanded laboratory capacity to type HAdVs and enhanced reporting could improve national understanding of HAdV circulation patterns and better guide public health prevention strategies,” the authors concluded.
This decline in HAdV reporting serves as a reminder of the potential gaps in surveillance systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for robust, consistent reporting practices to support comprehensive public health responses.
For more information, refer to the full study in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.