Outbreak of Echovirus 30 Meningitis in Switzerland

Abstract

This study includes 80 patients (38 children and 42 adults) who contracted aseptic meningitis in the summer of 1996 in Fribourg, Switzerland. Virological studies revealed an enteroviral infection in 65 out of 70 (93%) investigated patients. In 47 out of the 53 cases (89%) where a precise virus could be identified, the causative agent was an Echovirus 30. More than 50 patients lived in an area within a 5-km radius. The patients presented with the classic symptoms and signs of aseptic meningitis. In contrast, polymorphonuclear leukocytes predominated in the cerebrospinal fluid in the first 24 h and 32% of the cases had a left shift in their peripheral blood smear. The patients' age did not influence white blood cell count, the proportion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes or protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid. Thirty-three patients (41%) received antibiotic treatment, and 38 patients (48%) left the hospital within 24 h. Only 2 neuroradiological procedures and 1 electroencephalographic recording were performed. The outcome was favourable in all patients.