It might not be the flu, but something is going around
RSV, Rhinovirus, Parainfluenza and Adenovirus Are Heading Upward
With the start of flu season, viral infections in the region have been ticking steadily upward over the past several weeks. But the nasal congestion, coughs, fever and body aches you’re experiencing may not be caused by the influenza virus, scientists say.
Dr. Gary Paul Leonardi, director of the Virology Laboratory at Nassau University Medical Center, said there are numerous germs in circulation at this time of year on top of influenza A and B. These include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, parainfluenza and adenovirus, all of which cause respiratory infections.
“Every year we get a number of respiratory viruses in circulation, especially in kids. Once any virus gets to a critical level, it starts to spread,” Leonardi told the Brooklyn Eagle.