Epidemic of parvovirus B19 and disease severity in pregnant people, Denmark, January to March 2024
Anne Christine Nordholm, Frederik Trier Møller, Signe Fischer Ravn, Lotte Flink Sørensen, Anja Moltke-Prehn, Jacob Elskær Mollerup, Tjede Funk, Lene Sperling, Ulisa Jeyaratnam, Kristina Træholt Franck, Karina Hjort‐Pedersen, Christina Hjørnet Kamper, Rikke Thoft Nielsen, Pikka Jokelainen, Maria Wessman
Abstract
We report an epidemic of parvovirus B19 infections in Denmark during the first quarter of 2024, with a peak incidence 3.5 times higher than during the most recent epidemic in 2017. In total, 20.1% (130/648) of laboratory-confirmed cases were pregnant. Severe adverse outcomes were observed among 12.3% (16/130) of pregnant people and included foetal anaemia, foetal hydrops and miscarriage. Parvovirus B19 infection is not systematically monitored, but a national laboratory-based surveillance system is currently being established in Denmark.