r/PrepperIntel • u/Present-Rhubarb6337 • 3d ago
North America Unknown virus leaves some Iowa patients sick for weeks
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/unknown-virus-leaves-some-iowa-patients-sick-for-weeks/100
u/Concerned_Medic 3d ago
For whatever it's worth, it used to be really common to have viral illnesses like this which ED's, urgent cares, and PCP offices would diagnose as Viral Upper Respiratory Infections without ever differentiating or naming a virus. Trending cases would be sent to CDC and they'd actually find specific viruses, but at the patient level it was pretty common to just never know. Covid changed that and made everyone (myself included, this isn't a criticism just an observation) want to know what the specific virus responsible for their URI is.
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u/foundtheseeker 3d ago
In December 2019, I got one of those. Thought I was gonna die and the doctor pretty much just said, hope you don't because there's nothing we can do for you. I didn't die so I guess that's good
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u/Enlightened_Gardener 2d ago
Yep, came here to say we have something similar circulating in Australia, and its an adenovirus of some kind. You get a really runny head cold, with fever, and aches; and then a cough for two months.
Just a heads-up - whooping cough used to be called “The Hundred Days Cough” so do make sure your doc checks for whooping cough, even if you had it as a kid. One of my friends in her forties got caught out by this !
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u/DR_Hero 2d ago edited 2d ago
Have quite a few friends/family between the southern US and central America go down with the exact same illness/symptoms. Got it myself and thought I had permanent lung damage because the cough would not go away. The whole "resick" thing applied to my case as well, spent half the summer being sick
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u/bmw_babe 3d ago
Had nasal congestion/runny nose, whole body aches, nausea, and fatigue among other symptoms for a whole week or so back in September. Tested negative for everything on a respiratory panel, and tested negative for Covid several times. It went away with rest, but it makes me so miffed I never figured out what it was. Makes me wonder if it’s a new strain that the tests aren’t picking up.
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u/Mochigood 3d ago
Experiencing that now. I've had to take one and a half days off each week to just get by for the last three weeks. Planning on just napping and laying in the sun (It's going to be about 80) tomorrow. Hopefully I get over it then..
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u/WatchOne8763 3d ago
Same. Was sick for like 4 days with a runny nose, sore throat, and a cough. Negative COVID test.
The cough lasted for about 2-3 weeks.
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u/Appropriate-Dust3838 2d ago
Im so glad I read this. I just went through this. Still have the cough.
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u/Boring-Philosophy-46 1d ago
Postviral cough of up to a month is super common.
Not medical advice though, I am not a doctor.
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u/ReverendGraves85 2d ago
It was probably Human Metapneumovirus.
Cold like symptoms, sometimes progresses into pneumonia, generally a low risk infection. Typically gets written off as "The Cold" because its extremely common, crops up at the same time seasonally, shares a lot of symptoms (the cold doesnt typically progress to penumonia unless its unmanaged or your immune system isnt very strong). Only way to confirm it is with an expensive PCR test that most people either dont want or cant afford. Plus, bed rest and time resolves most cases, so its just not worth the effort to confirm it.
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u/bmw_babe 2d ago
The panel I had done tested for human metapneumovirus and it didn’t pick any up/was negative. I’m guessing that I took the test too late for anything to be picked up? It wasn’t a PCR test it was just some respiratory tract infection panel
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u/Daddys-Fuckpig 3d ago
Yeah I think the only way for that is a PCR test which isn't super accessible for folks. And even that I'd imagine may have delays considering how new this version is.
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u/CeeArthur 3d ago
I had something very similar that seemed to linger for a while just recently as well. The cough is still with me
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u/DaisyHotCakes 3d ago
Hey so where (broadly) do you live? There have been cases of dengue fever popping up in Florida but I’m assuming neighboring states might have issues too. The body aches are fucking AWFUL. Feels like your bones are being smashed.
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u/EmbarrassedDuck-453 3d ago
Weird because I live across the world and experienced the same. I have been sick for over 4 weeks now. Tested negative for COVID, Flu A&B, etc.
Weird symptoms, thought I was getting better for several days and woke up ridiculously ill with the same symptoms. It seems to wax and wane.
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u/Metta_Morph 2d ago
My parents brought something back from Scotland mid-Sep. They’re both still coughing and I’m on day 10 still symptomatic.
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u/Substantial-Stars 12h ago
This was me!! I was sick for almost 5 weeks. Some days I felt better, other days I was super sick. Runny nose, sneezing, headaches, cough. Reminded me a lot of covid but all of my covid tests were negative. Eventually it went away.
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u/I-am-Mojo-Jojo 3d ago
I live in Iowa. My girlfriend’s son is 12. He became sick
around September 15th. He is still sick, which is weird because he is healthy and very athletic and lean. It’s not a fever, chills kind of sick but just has had respiratory issues this entire time. He went to the doctor a few weeks ago and the doctor said that it’s just going around and to give it time. It seemed like he was getting better and then it came back around. We figured the kid couldn’t catch a break and just got sick again with something else.
Oddly enough, neither his mother nor I have gotten sick and we all live together.
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u/YesIshipKyloRen 3d ago
Same here but I’m the one with the recurring but not the kids but we had gi issues as well. Nothing tested positive except one child had strep 🙃
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u/pile_of_fish 3d ago
Hosted a music festival in September. Whole staff, myself included, got sick. Symptoms varied from moderate viral to serious flu level. Probably a novel virus circulating this fall. Who knows if cdc has anyone watching.
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u/AffectionateFact9387 3d ago
you've been brainwashed into thinking any of how we survey viruses has changed, in order to get you to vote the way you already would have voted. the cdc is always watching.
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u/Safetym33ting 3d ago
Im in n.y.. Had something like this for 3 weeks and it Started to turn to bronchitis, was given cipro for a week. This eliminated a lot of the symptoms. Was sick for about a month. Basically August. Negative for covid, flu and strep. Had rapid tests done for all 3, 3 times.
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u/Trash-Panda321 3d ago
I'm in PA and I've been sick for almost a week now and so have many other coworkers....sinus and respiratory problems. Not enough for me to be bedridden or anything (just been popping mucinex and sudafed), but makes me wonder what is causing it. Covid? Temperature swings we've been having?
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u/mazzles 3d ago edited 21h ago
Family members went on a business trip, came back and about 2 or 3 days later got hit with it. I caught it after two or so days of being exposed. I haven't been sick like this in a long time, even when I've been in close proximity to those that are. Whatever this is got me. It started as a bad ache in the back of my nasal passages that now only hurts when I swallow, seems like post nasal drip. Dry sinuses, pressure, congestion, temperature going up and down. I'm not coughing aside from the occasional tickle. The other family member that went on the trip got the same thing but worse, and now another got it but doesn't seem as bad. Did a test for flu, RSV and Covid, all negative. It seems airborne and very contagious if you're in close proximity.
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u/vagrantprodigy07 3d ago
My wife and I have had these symptoms for about two weeks in Tennessee, after going to the Chattanooga aquarium. We had tours groups ahead and behind us who were not locals.
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u/KiefKommando 3d ago
Don’t have anything to add other than me and the family love the Chattanooga Aquarium! Great place with awesome tanks and specimens
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u/Random_182f2565 3d ago
Covid again?
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u/Boring-Philosophy-46 3d ago
Commenters on that thread said that Human Metapneumovirus has those exact symptoms and that the nearest downwater wastewater testing facility is showing high levels of it but that ERs don't test for it and insurance won't pay for the testing usually.
I'm not a doctor though and I haven't verified that.
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u/Random_182f2565 3d ago
Just the name of the virus sounds awful 😞
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u/Boring-Philosophy-46 3d ago edited 3d ago
They can't all have cute names like Lyssavirus that's rabies, you definitely don't want that one or Arenavirus that's Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, you definitely don't want this one either.
🫤
Edit to say: folks, don't name kids after diseases, no matter how cute.
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u/Present-Rhubarb6337 3d ago
The article says patients tested negative for covid and flu. Sounds miserable :/
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u/bathoryduck 3d ago
My SO has something similar. She came down with it a week ago. Nasal congestion, sore throat, mild laryngitis, and general malaise. Lymph nodes are not swollen. No fever. I'm just trying to keep her hydrated, rested, and fed until she feels better. She doesn't have insurance, so she can't go to the doctor.
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u/Kusojiji-San 2d ago
I'm not too far from Des Moines and just recovered from this. I was sick for about 3-4 days with a fever, cough, runny nose and fatigue. Then I got better for about a day and my cough and runny nose returned. I then coughed for almost a month straight but with no other symptoms. No fevers and nothing pointing to COVID or the flu.
It was a weird one. I feel fine now but could easily see it having become pneumonia if I had a compromised immune system or other health concerns.
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u/Fancy_Sun_1585 3d ago
Weird how it’s the red states seeing all the diseases sprouting up…
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u/Livid_Restaurant7848 3d ago
Not how diseases work. It may start in Iowa but there are no barriers between states.
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u/Fancy_Sun_1585 3d ago
I mean sure, but blue states aren’t full of anti-science morons, and have people who know how to avoid getting sick.
Example- measles vaccine.
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u/Livid_Restaurant7848 2d ago
But people in red states go to visit a family member in a blue state and boom goes the dynamite.
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u/CannyGardener 3d ago
Is PA blue or red? I forget.
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u/Hesitation-Marx 3d ago
Depends where.
You have Philly, you have Pittsburg.
And then you have Pennsyltucky…
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u/CannyGardener 2d ago
Was being facetious, but evidently was not caught by anyone here... PA has had more measles deaths than anywhere else in the country, and its pretty much in the heart of 'blue country' up there in the North East. Every state has a rural/urban divide, even the red ones.
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u/Hesitation-Marx 2d ago
Man, I’m too autistic, catching humor online is beyond me these days. Thanks for explaining.
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u/Fancy_Sun_1585 3d ago
Very purple last I checked but full of religious freaks who are the very epitome of anti-science.
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u/WiskeyUniformTango 3d ago
I know someone in Texas who has the same symptoms for 2 months
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u/SnarlyBirch 3d ago
I got sick almost a month ago. They claimed bronchitis. It goes away and comes back.
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u/dramallamacorn 3d ago
Can you please elaborate? I’m not sure what point you are trying to make
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u/Fancy_Sun_1585 3d ago
That republicans don’t follow basic steps to avoid getting diseases, like hygiene, and vaccines, or masks.
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u/PookaChong 3d ago
Caught something last week lasted only a night started with sniffles sinus pressure turned into thought I was gonna die
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u/ambular1018 3d ago
My kid got strep and is on antibiotics but now is very congested in his chest and his sinuses. Which is odd because cold like symptoms have nothing to do with strep. Tested negative for covid.
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u/evfax 2d ago
We've had this and have either been passing this around or getting re-infected. All the doctors I've been to for both myself and my kids say it's not unusual for coughs/congestion to last up to 3 weeks. My newborn ultimately came down with RSV after weeks of congestion/coughing that finally started to improve. But after the RSV, he's healthy and feeling better than before, despite spending a day in the ER for respiratory support.
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u/Famous-Dimension4416 2d ago
Our whole house got sick with something early Sept right after school started and we have just now finished with whatever this was. Mild symptoms sore throat, cough, congestion that faded out to just a congested nose for several weeks. Tested negative for flu A and B and COVID. So assumed another cold virus but never had anything last so long. We are in OR
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u/rare_morning86 2d ago
I'm just getting over a month long sickness. I only had an at home covid test that was negative but I lost smell/taste, feverish, diarrhea, body achs fatigue. I would feel okay and then as soon as I started doing anything remotely physical the fever and fatigue would come right back. My smell has still not returned. Sometimes I will get a wiff if it's something really strong. Like I used an angle grinder and I could smell the burning metal but food is mostly flavorless still even though my nose is not congested any more.
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u/midsumernighttts 3d ago
HMPV maybe? Not to self diagnose but I think I have it, or if it’s just a cold, it’s the worst one I’ve ever had. My throat feels like it’s on fire.
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u/Soggy-Invite-2787 2d ago
Hit NZ as well. Literally sick for weeks and then it was followed by complications. I had a wet cough for a few months. Coworkers had a "flu" and then followed by pneumonia, laryngitis, bronchitis.
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u/Kip_Schtum 3d ago
Dumb article. The source is one nurse at an urgent care clinic. Probably just garbage scraped from a social media post. If this was actual journalism they would have quotes from actual medical doctors or local public health officials.
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u/greenmachine11235 3d ago
An Nurse Practitioner cannot identify an infection in a primary care setting. No mention of if the health department is involved or if actual testing was carried out. Thix is a nothing burger thats riding on post-COVID anxieties to get clicks.
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u/SanchoPandas 3d ago
Whole state probably has Hawkeye fever. It comes with an explosive offense and a defense that block things up pretty good. Prolly won't last too long and will likely resolve after another week or two.
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u/Front-Dust-3686 3d ago
Tl:dr, unhealthy Americans with piss poor immune systems struggle to fight off virus that healthy people don't bother reporting
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u/evermorecoffee 3d ago
To be fair, most people possibly have compromised immune systems now… this is a good explainer, from scientists who published a peer reviewed paper on the topic last year.
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u/socialmedia-username 3d ago
Reminds me of when my wife got sick with respiratory issues at the end of 2019 that wouldn't go away for over a month. When we finally went in late January 2020, the staff at the doc-in-a-box were all wearing masks, which was very weird to see at the time and was enough for us to ask what was going on (they said it was "precautionary"). They tested her for flu which was negative, and couldn't give her a clear answer as to what was wrong so just gave her stuff to deal with symptoms. Two months later the world shut down for COVID.
This probably isn't something like a pandemic, but worth keeping an eye on is all I'm saying.