Were you concerned when you first learned of this story?

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced Thursday that they have solved the so-called deadly Alabama mystery illness. The ADPH said that the cause of the puzzling illness was actually a combination of several respiratory illnesses: influenza A, rhinovirus and bacterial pneumonia. Healthychildren.org notes that the rhinovirus, more than any other illness, is associated with the common cold.

Expressing his joy that the cause of the mystery illness had been identified, State Health Officer Dr. Don Williamson said that testing had eliminated avian flu and novel coronavirus as possible causes of the deadly Alabama mystery illness.

According to ABC News and various statements from the ADPH, the ADPH was made aware of the puzzling mystery illness on May 16 after seven patients went to their doctors with a cough, a fever and shortness of breath. At the time, the doctors were unable to identify causes for any of these symptoms.

In addition to the perceived lack of causes for these symptoms, the ADPH was troubled by the fact that the ages of the patients and the test results varied so greatly. As a result of their concern, the ADPH sent out a public health alert on May 21. The alert asked physicians to utilize their best judgement when determining how to treat patients describing these symptoms since the causes had yet to be determined.

On the same day that they were made aware of the Alabama mystery illness, the ADPH began an epidemiological investigation to interview the families of the patients about trips outside the home and possible exposure to various risk factors, i.e. travel on airplanes, etc. The ADPH Bureau of Clinical Laboratories found that six of the seven patients tested positive for either influenza A, rhinovirus or a combination of both illnesses, and three patients tested positive for bacterial pneumonia. Two patients eventually passed away from bacterial pneumonia.

Dr. Mary McIntyre, the assistant state health officer for disease control and prevention, asked that doctors maintain their vigilance about respiratory illnesses.

Were you concerned when you first learned of this story? Did the ADPH overreact by issuing a public health alert? Sound off in the comments section.