More than a thousand people in Oregon, Texas, Washington and New York have been infected with a virulent virus whose symptoms starts like a common cold, but they could end in death sometimes, according to a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health specialists called this strain of the virus Adenovirus serotype 14 and added that it targets healthy Americans.

Adenoviruses cause respiratory infections that are not considered a real threat to people. Usually this virus does not lead to death. However, at least 10 people have been killed by a mutant form of the strain known as adenovirus 14.

"Whether you're a healthy young adult, an infant, or an elderly person, this virus can cause severe respiratory disease at any age. What brought this to our attention is that it can cause severe respiratory diseases in otherwise healthy adults," said John Su, an investigator of infectious diseases with the CDC and a contributor to the report.

Other adenoviruses have been related to gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis and cystitis.

The first case of this mutated virus was discovered in an infant girl in New York City who died last year, according to the CDC report. The child, healthy after birth, became dehydrated and lost appetite. She died 12 days later. Dr. John Su said that she was infected with a form of adenovirus, called Ad14, but slightly modified.

The first case of Ad14 infection was identified in 1955 among military recruits in the Netherlands and 14 years later caused severe damages between military recruits stationed in Europe.

At the beginning of 2007, more than a hundred trainees at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio became ill with respiratory infections. At least 106 of them had the mutated form of Ad14, five of them ending up in an intensive care unit.

Another 31 cases were registered at a Portland-area hospital from Oregon in April. Seven of them died from severe pneumonia. The Washington state officials reported four hospitalized patients in May. One of them, suffering from AIDS, died.

There is no medication against the virus, according to the CDC experts, but they say there is currently no need to raise the alarm for patients.

A Barr Pharmaceutical vaccine is currently being tested and is expected to be licensed in 2009. The health specialists from the CDC said that a vaccination against the mutant Ad14 is really needed.