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[Epidemiologic study of an outbreak of echovirus type-9 meningitis]
P V Cobos1, P Gutiérrez Meléndez, J L Yañez Ortega
1Hospital General Yagüe, Burgos.
Background:
Several agents are able to produce lymphocytic meningitis, but sometimes it's not possible their identification. The viruses are the etiological agents more frequently found, especially enteroviruses, mumps virus and herpes simplex virus, with different epidemiological patterns depending on time and geographic location. Most of the infections caused by enteroviruses are asymptomatics. In general the viral meningitis have a good prognostic with an acute benign course and serious signs of neurological affectation are infrequent. From 1991 it has been observed an increase of nonpolio enteroviral meningitis outbreaks in our Country. Echovirus-4 was isolated in most of the outbreaks notified during that year. Echovirus-9 was not isolated in any of them.
Methods:
We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of a lymphocytic meningitis outbreak that took place from June to July of 1993 in Burgos.
Results:
Forty-eight patients, most of them children, were hospitalized with fever, headache, vomits and stiff neck with an increase in the total cell count in cerebospinal fluid (CSF). Echovirus-9 was isolated from fecal samples in eight patients.
Conclusions:
The etiology was attributed to Echovirus-9 because of microbiologic and epidemiologic findings. The incubation period can fluctuate between four an five days and fecal-oral transmission is the most probable mechanism.
Insights
An Echovirus-9 outbreak caused lymphocytic meningitis in Burgos during 1993. Most cases were children presenting with fever, headache, and stiff neck, with fecal-oral transmission suspected.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Neurology
Context:
- Viral meningitis is often caused by enteroviruses, with varying geographic and temporal patterns.
- Enteroviral infections are frequently asymptomatic, and viral meningitis generally has a good prognosis.
- An increase in nonpolio enteroviral meningitis outbreaks has been noted since 1991.
Purpose:
- To describe the epidemiological and clinical features of a lymphocytic meningitis outbreak in Burgos.
- To identify the etiological agent responsible for the outbreak.
Summary:
- An outbreak of lymphocytic meningitis occurred in Burgos between June and July 1993.
- Forty-eight patients, predominantly children, were hospitalized with symptoms including fever, headache, vomiting, and stiff neck.
- Echovirus-9 was isolated from fecal samples of eight patients, leading to its identification as the causative agent.
Impact:
- Echovirus-9 was identified as the cause of the 1993 lymphocytic meningitis outbreak.
- The study suggests an incubation period of 4-5 days and fecal-oral transmission for Echovirus-9.
- This research contributes to understanding enteroviral meningitis outbreaks and their transmission dynamics.