six european countries (Croatia, Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom and Sweden) have reported cases of echovirus-11 (E-11) infection in newborns to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Until last May 31, cases were reported in France. Since then and until June 26, there have been others in Croatia, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Sweden. Each of those countries is carrying out new investigations and public health responses, the WHO said Saturday.
Based on the limited information available, WHO considered the public health risk to the general population to be low. “We continue to encourage countries to monitor and report cases. Health facilities caring for newborns should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of echovirus and maintain vigilance for potential healthcare-associated infections and outbreaks,” he stressed. .
France reported on May 5 an increase in cases of severe neonatal sepsis associated with echovirus-11. Between July 2022 and April 2023, there were nine cases of neonatal sepsis with liver failure and multi-organ failure in four hospitals in three different French regions. Seven children had died and two were hospitalized in neonatology units.
As of June 26, Croatia reported one confirmed case of E-11 infection by a cluster of enterovirus diseases in neonates detected in June, Italy reported seven confirmed cases of E-11 infection in neonates between April and June, Spain added two cases of E-11 infection this year, Sweden recorded five cases of E-11 with four of infant meningoencephalitis due to E-11 infection between 2022 and June 15, and the UK recorded two cases last March.