Europe: Alert for the dangerous parvovirus

Parvovirus 19, which causes erythema infectiosum in children, rings the bell European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC)following cases of infection in four European countries.

France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Norway reported increased infections to European health authorities, starting in 2023 and continuing into the first quarter of 2024, according to the ECDC’s latest report on communicable diseases.

Yes, its principles of France they talk about “unusual number of serious cases” in children and pregnant women, with an unusual number of miscarriages. The situation affects all French regions and all groups of the population.

In the first quarter of 2024, five deaths among children under one year were reported in France, number higher than the average number of deaths in previous years. Four of the five deaths involved newborns.

Regarding the other European countries and according to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, on April 11, the authorities of Netherlands reported increased cases of parvovirus B19 infections. An increase in the detection of donor blood and plasma in the national blood bank has been observed.

On April 12, the Public Health authorities of Ireland reported increased detections of the virus in the first months of 2024. 102 positive molecular test (PCR) results were recorded, which is significantly higher compared to the annual number of positive PCR results for the years 2020 to 2023 (30 – 61 cases per year). Its authorities also reported an increase in infections Norway in the age groups between 30 and 59 years.

What is the dangerous virus

As ECDC experts estimate, two thirds of the adult population are immune to parvovirus B19, due to previous infections, mainly in childhood. Studies have shown that 30% to 40% of pregnant women may be susceptible to the infection, which in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy can lead to serious adverse effects on the fetus and death in 10% of cases.

Human parvovirus B19 (Parvovirus B19) is the causative virus of erythema infectiosum in children, while it can cause aplastic seizures in patients with anemia. It is known as the fifth disease, after the four known childhood diseases (measles, rubella, mumps, scarlet fever). It mainly affects children aged 5-15 and especially in the winter months.

It starts with a slight fever, headache and generally symptoms similar to the common cold. These symptoms pass and on the 7th to 11th day the rash appears. The rash is bright red, starts on the face and gives the impression that someone slapped the child on the cheek. It then spreads to the rest of the body.

Read also:

EOF: Deadly Dietary Supplement Alert – Marketed as a Fat Burner

Alert from Japan: Scary spread of dangerous strep infection

Avian flu: ECDC alert for human outbreaks – Prevention and early diagnosis guidelines