Parechovirus Genotype 3 Outbreak among Infants, New South Wales, Australia, 2013–2014

Abstract

Syndromic surveillance was useful for outbreak monitoring, and public health response helped reduce hospitalization times.

High prevalence of developmental concern amongst infants at 12 months following hospitalised parechovirus infection

“…However, the outcome of all forms of HPeV3 infection causing hospitalisation in infants is poorly defined. 15 The majority of infants in this series were admitted to one of the two hospitals in the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (SCHN), the Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW) or Sydney Children's Hospital (SCH), Randwick. 11,14 Studying the long-term outcome of all forms of hospitalised HPeV infection is therefore important.…”

Parechovirus Encephalitis and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

“…HPeV accounted for 10% of total suspected encephalitis cases identified over the surveillance period, during which a large outbreak of HPeV3 infection occurred in Eastern Australia. 38 Nine infants had confirmed HPeV encephalitis. Most were girls and born preterm.…”

An erythematous palmoplantar rash due to human parechovirus

“…PeVs are members of the family Picornaviridae 1. Over the past decades, several cases of PeV infections, not responding to antiviral drugs, have been documented in northern Europe, USA and Japan 2. No long-term implications have been reported.…”