Infections Due to Adenovirus Type 8 in the United States

Abstract

IN western countries outbreaks of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis have been limited largely to ophthalmic clinics of certain industries (such as shipyards), where minor eye trauma frequently occurs.^{1 2 3} Once introduced into an industrial dispensary or eye clinic, the virus is passed from one patient to the next by minor procedures such as tonometry and foreign-body removal.^{1 , 4} Secondary spread from adults thus infected to their immediate families is rare.^{2 , 5} In Japan, where there is a high endemic level of adenovirus Type 8, children are commonly infected.⁶ In young children the infection appears as a systemic disease, with fever, respiratory or gastrointestinal signs and . . .