OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Wisconsin Department of Health Services is investigating the outbreak of a respiratory virus at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
DHS says adenovirus has also been documented at UW-Madison and La Crosse.
It’s unknown how many students are affected, because adenovirus cases are not required to be reported to the state, and because symptoms are similar to those of common colds.
People can contract adenovirus by:
- Breathing in adenovirus from the air after someone with the infection has sneezed or coughed.
- Touching or shaking hands with someone with the virus, then touching your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes.
- Touching surfaces like a door knob, counter top, or phone with the virus on it, then touching your hands to mouth, nose, or eyes.
- Having contact with feces.
- Having contact with water that has the virus in it, such as in a swimming pool.
Symptoms include:
- Respiratory illness. These can range from cold and flu-like symptoms to bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Diarrhea.
- Pink eye.
- In rare cases, inflammation of the bladder or severe neurological disease.
