2024-07-22 22:00:00
Enteroviruses spread throughout the world. In temperate regions such as France, we observe an increase in nosocomial enterovirus infections, mainly benign meningitis, every summer and autumn. This increase can be observed as early as May but occurs most often during the summer. The summer peak usually occurs in June/July, with a second, smaller peak in autumn. Although most enterovirus infections have few or no symptoms, some infections may be associated with severe damage, depending on age, immune status (humoral immunodeficiency), or type of enterovirus.
Faced with the current epidemiological context of an increase in enterovirus infections, the French Public Health Agency, on the occasion of the publication today of its data report for 2023-2024, recalls the vigilance that health professionals need to maintain and the basic hygiene rules to limit the spread of viruses.
Enteroviruses will resume widespread circulation this summer
France has observed lower enterovirus (EV) transmission since 2020, linked to measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and this has continued into 2022, with EV infection levels well below those between 2016 and 2019 Peaks observed during the year. In 2023, the number of EV infections will reach 2,339, and the scale of the summer epidemic is close to the scale of the 19 years before the COVID-19 epidemic (an average of 2,720 cases from 2016 to 2019). The size of the meningitis outbreak is similar to 2019, with 1,555 cases.
In 2024, the number of EV infection cases reported to the Enterovirus Surveillance Network (RSE) as of 19 June 2024 reflects an increase in EV infections starting in the spring (peaking in week 17) and a significant increase in the number of meningitis cases.
The number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for viral meningitis reported by the OSCOUR network appears to have increased since the spring (week S12) compared with the same period in 2023, but by week 24, many cases had ended the same period as in 2023. compared to what was observed.
Therefore, vigilance remains in the face of an increase in cases of Ebola virus infection and viral meningitis during the summer of 2024, especially among young children.
What advice are there for healthcare professionals?
In view of the current dynamics of enterovirus transmission and the possibility of an increase in enterovirus infections this summer, especially among young children, the French Public Health Agency and CNR for enteroviruses and parechoviruses Health professionals are called upon to be particularly vigilant when faced with severe clinical manifestations (especially neurological symptoms) or immunocompromised populations and when faced with any serious neonatal infection where enteroviral infection must be considered and sought.
They remind us of the importance of collecting samples (LCQ, blood, nasopharyngeal samples, stool) suitable for studying EV genomes in any serious clinical situation. Therefore, any neonatal infection or severe neurological injury related to EV infection must be reported to the CNR, and samples must be sent for completion of virological studies (especially sequencing).
French public health authorities recalled that symptomatic enterovirus infections are common, especially in children; they are usually benign, but in some cases can lead to serious neurological, respiratory, cardiac or digestive disorders.
Enhancing household and/or community hygiene rules (hand washing, surface disinfection) is critical to limit the spread of these viruses, especially for immunocompromised people and pregnant women.
If an enterovirus infection occurs, treatment is symptomatic only and any antibiotic therapy will be ineffective.
1722179289
#Enterovirus #infections #Enteroviruses #resume #circulation #summer #France
