He noted however, that there was currently no evidence of this. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline one possible explanation for a recent rise in severity of enterovirus cases could be mothers not being exposed to common bugs during lockdown. Previous unusual outbreaks of infectious disease among children, including strep A last winter, have been blamed on lockdowns potentially weakening immunity against the usually harmless bugs. Health authorities consider the two clusters of enterovirus clusters in the UK and France to be unrelated. They were also less interested in eating and drinking. The unwell children in the UK also presented with sepsis - which can kill within hours unless it is treated quickly. While some sufferers have no symptoms, it can cause chest pains, palpitations and shortness of breath. It is caused by the body's immune system overreacting to being infected and causing inflammation, which can stay in the heart even after the virus has been cleared. Myocarditis usually occurs following a virus. Eight were treated in intensive care, where they were intubated, put on a ventilator and received circulatory support.ĭetails on the remaining six cases have not yet been published. PCR testing of nine of the children confirmed they had the coxsackie B3 or B4 types of enterovirus.

However, over the same period UK health authorities have observed a string of unusual cases from a different enterovirus, which they are still investigating.Ī total of 15 newborns in Wales and south-west England have been struck down with severe myocarditis - or inflammation of the heart - since June 2022. MailOnline understands that there are currently no signs of a similar cluster of Echovirus-11 infections in Britain. In response to the recent cases, French authorities have urged medics to keep a watchful eye on newborns whose mothers may be ill with an enterovirus. No specific antiviral therapy is available for enteroviruses, so treatment focuses on preventing complications. The World Health Organization says a new strain of pathogen called Echovirus-11 is responsible. Seven babies have died as a result of the infection since June 2022 with two remaining in hospital. Health chiefs have identified a cluster of cases in newborns caused by a different type of enterovirus to the UK outbreak. However, a couple in South Wales have shared details of the death of their son Elijah, who died in similar circumstances.Īs this death occurred in March 2022, before the nine-month period defined by Public Health Wales, it is not being probed as part of the official cluster.īut health chiefs at Public Health Wales are investigating the reasons for the cluster of cases and to spot any others that may be reported in the coming weeks. One child died before being transferred to tertiary care - part of a hospital that delivers highly specialist treatment. How many children have been hospitalised?Įight youngsters were treated in intensive care, where they were intubated, put on a ventilator and received circulatory support.ĭetails of six cases are unclear, so the number may be higher. Ten cases have been spotted in South Wales and five have been detected in South-West England between June 2022 and March 2023. More than a dozen young children in the UK have developed myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) alongside an enterovirus infection.

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