Increase in Echovirus 30 detections in Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden

Since the beginning of 2018, certain EU/EEA public health institutes have observed an upsurge in the number of positive enterovirus detections, especially Echovirus 30 (E30) cases. E30 is a non-polio enterovirus that causes aseptic meningitis outbreaks worldwide. Such outbreaks have been detected earlier in Europe and usually occur at five to six year intervals. 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) compared the available E30 reports from nine member states in response to a data call through the Epidemic Intelligence Information System–Vaccine Preventable Diseases (EPIS-VPD) platform, to earlier collected country-specific E30 detection data from 2015 to 2017. Based on available preliminary data, 259 E30 detections from Denmark (38), Latvia (one), the Netherlands (85), Norway (37), Sweden (21) and the United Kingdom (England and Scotland; 77) have been reported since the beginning of 2018.

Currently, the exact transmission route of current infections is unknown. In affected countries, further transmission of E30 cannot be excluded and therefore all EU/EEA member states should remain vigilant. 

Source: ECDC, 3 August 2018