A laboratory is investigating whether Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has an adenovirus infection or is suffering from a heavy cold, the Bogota health secretary said Friday.
According to Secretary Hector Zambrano, there is an adenovirus infection break-out in Colombia’s capital because of severe and rapid changes in temperature.
Zambrano told Caracol Radio that health authorities in Bogota are at the highest alert as the virus — which seems similar to a heavy cold — can cause respiratory problems, gastroenteritis and a rash.
Adenovirus infections most commonly cause illness of the respiratory system;
however, depending on the infecting serotype, they may also cause various
other illnesses, such as gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, cystitis, and rash
illness. Symptoms of respiratory illness caused by adenovirus infection
range from the common cold syndrome to pneumonia, croup, and bronchitis.
Patients with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to
severe complications of adenovirus infection. Acute respiratory disease
(ARD), first recognized among military recruits during World War II, can be
caused by adenovirus infections during conditions of crowding and stress.
The health secretary said Santos is doing relatively well and the test results showing the state of the president’s health will be released Friday.