Enteroviral meningitis in infants and children is primarily transmitted fecal-orally. It is estimated that several hundred cases are recorded annually throughout Switzerland. Bern University Hospital provides medical services for a catchment area of 1.5 million inhabitants. Based on data from 2010-2019, approximately 20 infants (up to 1 year of age) with enteroviral meningitis were expected in 2020.
Not a single positive case among infants
Much to the researchers’ surprise, not a single positive case in infants was found during the 2020 pandemic year. A drastic decrease was also recorded in children aged 1 – 16 years. Presumably, the pandemic measures are responsible for this effect. This is all the more surprising given that the majority of pandemic measures had been scaled back or lifted during the summer.
Effect of the pandemic measures
It was already known that the pandemic measures implemented to curtail SARS-CoV-2 also had an impact on the incidence of other viral respiratory diseases. The positive effects known thus far were mainly related to viruses transmitted through the respiratory air via droplet infection. Lead author Larissa Stoffel explains: “The complete absence of enteroviral meningitis in infants observed here indicates that viruses normally transmitted via the fecal-oral route are now also prevented from spreading with the pandemic measures.”
Of particular interest is the fact that only two measures were consistently maintained during the summer: hand hygiene and social distancing. Day care facilities and schools were open, however.
Outlook
The present data only apply to the catchment area of Inselspital. A more extensive sample and additional tests would be helpful in determining more precise data.
“But we can already state,” notes Prof. Christoph Aebi, “that the simple pandemic measures can drastically limit the occurrence of enteroviral meningitis in children. Therefore, these measures need to be studied more closely as long-term preventive measures to control viral meningitis in children.”
Experts:
- Prof. Dr. med. Christoph Aebi, Chief Physician, Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
- Larissa Stoffel, postgraduate student, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
- PD Dr. med. Philipp KA Agyeman, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
Contact:
- Insel Gruppe AG, Communication: +41 31 632 79 25, kommunikation@insel.ch
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