Outbreak of Echovirus 30 meningitis in Switzerland

This study includes 80 patients (38 children and 42 adults) who contracted aseptic meningitis in the summer of 1996 in Fribourg, Switzerland. Virologi cal studies revealed an enteroviral infection in 65 out of 70 (93%) investi gated patients, in 47 out of the 53 cases (89%) where a precise virus could be identified, the causative agent was an Echovirus 30. More than 50 patie nts li,ed in an area within a 5-km radius. The patients presented with the classic symptoms and signs of aseptic meningitis. In contrast, polymorphonu clear leukocytes predominated in the cerebrospinal fluid in the first 24 h and 32% of the cases had a left shift in their peripheral blood smear. The patients' age did not influence white blood cell count, the: proportion of pol morphonuclear leukocytes or protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid, Thirty-three patients (41%) received antibiotic treatment, and 38 pa tients (48%) left the hospital within 24 h, Only 2 neuroradiological proced ures and 1 electroencephalographic recording mere performed. The outcome wa s favourable in all patients.