Jp. Mcintyre et Ga. Keen, LABORATORY SURVEILLANCE OF VIRAL MENINGITIS BY EXAMINATION OF CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID IN CAPE-TOWN, 1981-9, Epidemiology and infection, 111(2), 1993, pp. 357-371
Nine years accumulated laboratory data derived from the culture of the
cerebrospinal fluid of 11 360 aseptic meningitis cases were retrospec
tively reviewed to establish the epidemiology of viral meningitis in C
ape Town. Virus was isolated from 3406 of the cases (91% enteroviruses
and 9% mumps). Five major summer viral meningitis episodes were docum
ented: two of echovirus 4 (706 and 445 cases), echovirus 9 (223), coxs
ackie A9 (104) and one of unidentified enterovirus (324 cases - probab
ly echo 9). Although coxsackie B was endemic. clusters of one or other
type were dominant at any one time. Mumps was endemic. Sixty-two perc
ent of all viral cases were < 5 years old. The median ages of 4 and 5
years in echoviruses 9 and 4 (the epidemic strains) contrasted with th
at of 1 year in coxsackie B (with many cases < 3 months old). Mumps pe
aked at 3-4 years of age. Males dominated overall, particularly in mum
ps.