Adenovirus, Vaccine available to Military only

The massive flu outbreak gripping the U.S. could let a lesser-known infection slip through the cracks. And even if more doctors checked for the flu-like bug known as adenovirus, the vaccine to prevent it remains licensed for military use only.

That's according to a new report published this week by the Centers for Disease Control in its journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, which suggests the military's exclusive vaccine be considered for civilian use.

Adenovirus can feel like the flu: Symptoms include fever, sore throat and diarrhea, the CDC notes.

But the lack of effective surveillance to assess its prevalence makes determining the toll of adenovirus difficult, the report says, and the lack of a vaccine could leave civilians living in cramped quarters needlessly vulnerable.

US today: less than 50%
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