Health authorities are warning of a resurgence of enterovirus infections. What is it?
Summer peak of meningitis
Enterovirus infections can be caused by different strains of this group of viruses and can affect different parts of the body.
Every year, in summer and autumn , an increase in enterovirus infections is noted in the hospital environment, and particularly for meningitis . The summer peak is usually observed in June/July and a second peak of lesser magnitude during the autumn, explains Public Health France.
Enterovirus infections are most often benign and cause few or no symptoms. However, "some infections can be accompanied by severe damage , depending on age, immune status (deficiency of humoral immunity) or the type of enterovirus," health authorities point out. These severe forms are manifested by neurological, respiratory, cardiac or digestive damage.
"The low circulation of enteroviruses (EV) observed since 2020 in USA, linked to measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, has continued until 2022 with levels of EV infections well below the peaks observed between 2016 and 2019," recalls Public Health US.
Limiting the transmission of the virus
Enteroviruses are transmitted through contact from person to person or with contaminated objects. If infected, antibiotic treatment is useless.
Before completing with the latest data: "In 2024, the number of cases of EV infections reported to the Enterovirus Surveillance Network (ESN) on June 19, 2024 reflects a resurgence of EV infections, observed from the spring (peak in week 17) with a higher number of meningitis cases between weeks 12 and 20 (March 18 to May 19) compared to the same period in 2023 - 293 cases versus 178 cases)."
The number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for meningitis appears to be increasing since spring compared to the same period in 2023, but in week 24, the number of cases is close to that observed in 2023. Public Health USA recommends respecting certain hygiene rules (what are called barrier gestures ) in order to limit the transmission of viruses. Indeed, it is essential to respect hand washing and surface disinfection to limit the transmission of these viruses, particularly to immunocompromised people and pregnant women.