Increased reports of severe myocarditis associated with enterovirus infection in neonates, United Kingdom, 27 June 2022 to 26 April 2023
Anika Singanayagam, Catherine Moore, Susannah Froude, Cristina Celma, Julia Stowe, Erjola Hani, Khuen Foong Ng, Peter Muir, Marion Roderick, Simon Cottrell, David Bibby, Barry Vipond, Sophie Gillett, Peter J. Davis, Jack R. Gibb, Mai Barry, Phillippa Harris, Frances Rowley, Jiao Song, Ananda Giri Shankar, Danielle McMichael, Jonathan Cohen, Abirami Manian, Ciaran Harvey, Louise Shaw Primrose, Stefanie Wilson, Declan Bradley, Karthik Paranthaman, Stuart Beard, Maria Zambon, Mary Ramsay, Vanessa Saliba, Shamez Ladhani, Christopher J. Williams
Abstract
Enteroviruses are a common cause of seasonal childhood infections. The vast majority of enterovirus infections are mild and self-limiting, although neonates can sometimes develop severe disease. Myocarditis is a rare complication of enterovirus infection. Between June 2022 and April 2023, twenty cases of severe neonatal enteroviral myocarditis caused by coxsackie B viruses were reported in the United Kingdom. Sixteen required critical care support and two died. Enterovirus PCR on whole blood was the most sensitive diagnostic test. We describe the initial public health investigation into this cluster and aim to raise awareness among paediatricians, laboratories and public health specialists.