English summary: Echovirus 30 outbreak in Finland during 2010 - surveillance and response

Background

Enterovirus is a leading cause of aseptic meningitis, but other less severe clinical presentations are also common. Enterovirus infections are typical among children and young adults. Outbreaks typically occur in late summer. There was a major increase in enterovirus infections in Finland during 2010, continuing a trend from 2008-2009. Sporadic cases of enterovirus meningitis cases appeared in June 2010 and the number of cases increased rapidly in July including one case among the organisers of an international scout camp. The aim of this study was to describe the extent and spread of the enterovirus outbreak in Finland in 2010 by molecular and epidemiological methods. Furthermore, we aimed to enhance sharing information between key stake holders.

Methods

We described the 2010 outbreak by person, time and geographical spread and characterized a representative number of strains submitted by clinical microbiology laboratories to the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) for identification of the causative agents. An enhanced surveillance was set up to facilitate the healthcare districts (HD) and the international scout camp to report suspected viral meningitis clusters to THL.

Results

Altogether 560 enterovirus cases were reported during 2010. The outbreak was characterised by an emerging strain of echovirus 30, and 49% (276) of the cases were between 5 and 19 years of age. Seven (33%) of the HDs reported major echovirus clusters, while two minor hand, foot and mouth disease clusters by coxsackie virus A were detected. Of all samples, 25% (99/395) were submitted for further typing; 75% were echovirus, 19% coxsackie A and 6% coxsackie B viruses. No confirmed cases were reported from the scout camp.

Conclusions

Communication between stakeholders and timely control measures were essential to the preventive measures taken during the enterovirus outbreak in Finland in 2010.