TWO CONCURRENT EPIDEMICS OF ENTEROVIRAL MENINGITIS IN AN OBSTETRIC NEONATAL UNIT

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Abstract
A small epidemic of viral infection occurred in a neonatal unit. It involved 11 infants, all of whom recovered. Echovirus 11 was the cause of illness in six infants, coxsackie 83 in four, and one infant had a biphasic illness, due first to echo 11, then to coxsackie B3. The epidemic coincided with a major outbreak of echovirus 11 and a smaller outbreak of coxsackie 83 in the community. Several staff became ill. Five infants were considered to have been infected by perinatal materno‐infant spread, others by cross‐infection. The epidemic ended when the nursery was closed.