Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) variant B accounts for the majority of symptomatic primary HHV-6 infections in a population of U.S. infants.

ABSTRACT

Two variants of human herpesvirus 6 were identified. To assess their epidemiology and disease association, we analyzed viral isolates and/or uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 76 infants with symptomatic primary infection. In 97% of cases, human herpesvirus 6 variant B was detected, but variant A was not.