Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

An Efficient Method for Adenovirus Production
10:06

An Efficient Method for Adenovirus Production

Published on: June 10, 2021

Community outbreak of adenovirus, Taiwan, 2011

Tsung-Pei Tsou, Boon-Fatt Tan, Hsin-Yu Chang

    Emerging Infectious Diseases
    |October 25, 2012
    PubMed

    Insights

    A 2011 Taiwan outbreak saw increased human adenovirus (HAdV) infections, particularly HAdV-7. This emerging strain caused severe illness and fatalities, highlighting the need for surveillance.

    Area of Science:

    • Virology
    • Epidemiology
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • Human adenovirus (HAdV) infections can cause significant community outbreaks.
    • Taiwan experienced a large HAdV outbreak in 2011, necessitating investigation into the causative agents and their impact.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and clinical impact of the 2011 HAdV outbreak in Taiwan.
    • To identify the predominant HAdV strains and investigate the emergence of HAdV-7 during the outbreak.

    Main Methods:

    • Nationwide surveillance data analysis for HAdV detection.
    • Collection and review of clinical information from 202 HAdV-infected inpatients.
    • Strain characterization and comparison with international isolates.

    Main Results:

    • HAdV-3 was the predominant strain (74%), but HAdV-7 showed a significant increase from 0.3% (2008-2010) to 10% in 2011.
    • HAdV-7 was disproportionately associated with severe infections (41% of severe cases) and fatalities.
    • The outbreak strain of HAdV-7 was identical to a strain reported in China.

    Conclusions:

    • The 2011 HAdV outbreak in Taiwan was driven by the emergence of HAdV-7, previously absent in circulation.
    • The introduction of this emerging strain poses a significant public health threat, particularly for severe HAdV infections.

    Related Concept Videos

    Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

    Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

    Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
    Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

    Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

    Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
    Steps in Outbreak Investigation01:18

    Steps in Outbreak Investigation

    In the ever-evolving field of public health, statistical analysis serves as a cornerstone for understanding and managing disease outbreaks. By leveraging various statistical tools, health professionals can predict potential outbreaks, analyze ongoing situations, and devise effective responses to mitigate impact. For that to happen, there are a few possible stages of the analysis:
    Influenza01:27

    Influenza

    Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
    Diphtheria01:28

    Diphtheria

    Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
    Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

    Bacterial Gastroenteritis

    Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...