The hospital said it had recorded 2,777 adenovirus cases since the beginning of 2026, compared with the same period last year. Another 383 children tested positive in the first days of July alone, indicating infections are continuing to rise.
Adenovirus circulates throughout the year but typically surges during seasonal transitions and the summer months, when children spend more time outdoors, attend summer classes and visit public swimming pools.
One recent cluster involved five children attending the same swimming class at a public pool, four of whom tested positive for adenovirus, highlighting the risk of transmission in poorly managed facilities.
Adenovirus is a group of viruses that can infect people of all ages but is most common among infants and young children. Most children are infected at least once before the age of 10.
The virus spreads mainly through respiratory droplets but can also be transmitted through contaminated water, the digestive tract or shared personal items such as towels and drinking cups. The incubation period is typically eight to 12 days.
There are more than 50 types of adenovirus, some of which are associated with prolonged fever, more severe symptoms and a higher risk of complications.
Children aged six months to five years, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk. Infection provides immunity only to the specific strain, leaving reinfection with other strains possible.
Doctors said adenovirus can survive for prolonged periods in the environment, contributing to its rapid spread, particularly in crowded settings such as nurseries and kindergartens, where children are exposed to higher viral loads.
Symptoms commonly include fever, cough, runny nose and respiratory infections. In more severe cases, the virus can cause pneumonia, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, hepatitis, encephalitis, meningitis and cystitis.
While most healthy patients recover with supportive care, severe illness can develop in children with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems, particularly if secondary bacterial infections occur.
Parents were advised to seek immediate medical attention if children develop warning signs such as laboured breathing, chest indrawing, lethargy or altered consciousness.
Parents were urged not to use antibiotics without medical advice, as there is no specific treatment for adenovirus, and to keep children with suspected infections away from schools, public pools and crowded places.
The hospital called on schools, childcare centres, recreational facilities and public swimming pools to regularly disinfect water and frequently touched surfaces, improve ventilation and limit overcrowding to help prevent cross-infection.