ECHOVIRUS-30 INFECTION AND ASEPTIC-MENINGITIS IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN ATTENDING A CHILD-CARE CENTER

In July 1992, 13 parents with children attending a child care center ( CCC) developed aseptic meningitis (AM) due to echovirus 30 (E30). To d etermine the extent of illness and risk factors for transmission, surv eys and blood specimens were collected from CCC families and teachers and from adult and pediatric controls. Infection was defined as the pr esence of anti-E30 IgM antibodies. CCC parents (60%, 67/111) and child ren (75%, 79/105) had significantly higher infection rates than did te achers (14%, 3/22), adult controls (24%, 10/41), and pediatric control s (24%, 17/70). Infected CCC parents had more severe illness (18% [12/ 65] had AM; 11% [7/65] were hospitalized) than did infected CCC childr en (3% [2/79] had AM and 1% [1/79] were hospitalized). More frequent h andwashing among teachers compared with parents and among mothers of t oddlers was associated with significantly lower rates of infection (P less than or equal to .05). Education of parents about good handwashin g practices may reduce transmission of E30 and other infectious agents from children to adults.