On July 12, 2022, the CDC issued a health advisory, warning that parechovirus is spreading in the U.S. It’s a common virus that isn’t typically super dangerous -- but in very young infants, it can cause severe illness and even death
NBC News says the uptick in cases might just be because of increased testing and screening, or because of the pandemic. And they emphasize that severe illness is really rare -- most recover without any intervention
Yes, for most, parechovirus is relatively harmless. But it’s dangerous for babies because their immune systems are less robust, explains ScaryMommy. And since there’s no vaccine or treatment for parechovirus, parents should be extra vigilant
So what should you look out for? Hartford Healthcare says fatigue, irritability, difficulty eating, fever, or a telltale rash are all signs you should take your baby to the doctor
And Self.com suggests using COVID precautions -- masks, handwashing, distancing -- to keep babies safe in their first few months. They also offer some reassurance: Although younger babies *are* more at risk, many of them recover from the virus just fine
The NYT spoke to two parents who lost their infants to parechovirus. They say they want to raise awareness, to hopefully prevent this from happening to other people. And their stories underline the importance of testing, and taking these cases seriously
In December 2022, as a sort of look-back at the year, Insider listed Parechovirus on the list of diseases that made a “shocking comeback” post-COVID -- and they could surge this upcoming year, 2023