Adenovirus type 7 infections in children in New South Wales, Australia.

This study describes our experience of adenovirus type 7 infection in children in New South Wales, Australia. Some aspects of the epidemiology of the infection are also recorded. A community outbreak, a hospital-ward outbreak, sporadic cases, and data from a centralised registry are described. Results of genome-type identification using restriction endonucleases are given. Adenovirus type 7b infection was associated with significant mortality and points to the need, previously expressed, for an adequate vaccine for high-risk infants. Continued surveillance of adenovirus type 7 infections worldwide is necessary to identify genome types so that appropriate vaccines can be developed.