Adult adenovirus infections: Loss of orphaned vaccines precipitates military respiratory disease epidemics

G. C. Gray, P. R. Goswami, M. D. Malasig, A. W. Hawksworth, D. H. Trump, M. A. Ryan, D. P. Schnurr

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Adenovirus vaccines have greatly reduced military respiratory disease morbidity since the 1970s. However, in 1995, for economic reasons, the sole manufacturer of these vaccines ceased production. A population-based adenovirus surveillance was established among trainees with acute respiratory illness at 4 US military training centers as the last stores of vaccines were depleted. From October 1996 to June 1998, 1814 (53.1%) of 3413 throat cultures for symptomatic trainees (78% men) yielded adenovirus. Adenovirus types 4, 7, 3, and 21 accounted for 57%, 25%, 9%, and 7% of the isolates, respectively. Unvaccinated trainees were much more likely than vaccinated trainees to be positive for types 4 or 7 (odds ratio [OR] = 28.1; 95% CI, 20.2-39.2). Two training centers experienced epidemics of respiratory disease affecting thousands of trainees when vaccines were not available. Until a new manufacturer is identified, the loss of orphaned adenovirus vaccines will result in thousands of additional preventable adenovirus infections.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)663-670
Number of pages8
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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