Enterovirus infections in Finland currently higher than average
The number of enterovirus cases reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register has started to increase earlier than usual this year. In addition, an above-average number of cases of enterovirus-induced hand, foot and mouth disease have been reported from around Finland to the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL).
Most of the cases are mild, but in Turku at least some child patients have been hospitalised due to shortness of breath. These patients have been diagnosed with enterovirus D 68, which usually only causes mild respiratory symptoms, but sometimes also shortness of breath or pneumonia.
A total of 243 laboratory-confirmed enterovirus cases were reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register last year. There have been 217 cases reported so far this year, and the number is expected to increase further.
Enteroviruses most often cause symptoms in children
Enterovirus infections are usually mild, and the person normally recovers naturally within 1–2 weeks. However, there are cases each year with more serious symptoms. Enteroviruses usually cause symptoms in children, but young people and adults may also be infected and develop symptoms.
In addition to respiratory tract infections, abdominal symptoms and the hand, foot and mouth disease, enteroviruses can also cause myocarditis and meningitis, the most common symptoms of which are fever, headache and neck stiffness.
Enteroviruses are transmitted either from droplets or from faeces to hands and then hands to mouth. The most effective way to prevent infection is careful hand hygiene, which includes washing hands with soap and using plenty of water.
Dozens of enterovirus variants may be circulating simultaneously
At any one time there may be dozens of different variants circulating in the population, with the clinical picture varying between these types. Once you have been infected with one variant, you are protected against infection from the same type, but you may later become infected with a different one.
Since 2008, the most common cause of hand, foot and mouth disease, both in Finland and elsewhere in Europe, has been coxsackievirus A6.
Further information for healthcare professionals
Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually identified by its clinical picture. When there is suspicion of a serious enterovirus infection, a respiratory secretion sample and faecal sample should be taken. Enterovirus may also be detected in cerebrospinal fluid, blood and blister samples.
The samples are sent to a clinical microbiology laboratory that conducts enterovirus testing. Such laboratories can provide more detailed sampling instructions. If patients have serious symptoms that may be caused by enterovirus, we ask health care professionals to also contact the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s Communicable Disease Control Physician.
Katja Kotkavaara
Communicable Disease Physician
THL
tel. +358 29 524 8557
[email protected]
Carita Savolainen-Kopra
Chief Specialist
THL
tel. +358 29 524 8884
[email protected]
Soile Blomqvist
Senior Researcher
THL
tel. +358 29 524 8490
[email protected]
