A fourth child has died in an outbreak of a dangerous strain of virus currently circulating on Australia’s east coast.
NSW Health confirmed today that it had been notified of the child’s death, which is being linked to enterovirus 71 [EV71].
Of the three other children — all under the age of two — who have died since late last year, EV71 has been confirmed as the cause of death in two cases and suspected but still under investigation in the third.
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More than 100 children have been admitted to Sydney’s children’s hospital network with neurological complications suspected to have been caused by the virus this year.
EV71 can cause mild or no symptoms in some children but in severe cases results in complications like meningitis, brain swelling and paralysis.
Infectious diseases experts are closely monitoring the outbreak, as it is the first time the more virulent C4a strain of the virus has been dominant in Australia.
Dr Bruce Thorley, of the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, told aww.com.au EV71 had also been detected in Victoria and is likely to be in other states and territories.
He said the outbreak was “of concern” as in rare cases, it can result in polio-like paralysis. Ongoing surveillance for polio and EV71 is vital, he added, along with good hygiene such as washing hands to prevent spread of these viruses.
NSW Health said it had established a surveillance system “to monitor the increase in the number of presentations of children with severe neurological disease suspected to be due to enterovirus at Sydney hospitals”.
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EV71 is not a notifiable condition, meaning data would not be collected on infections under normal conditions. The latest weekly data from NSW Health can be read here.
“In June, NSW Health was notified of a fourth child whose recent death is being investigated in relation to enterovirus infection,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
NSW said it could not provide any additional information on the most recent fatality, such as the child’s age, location, treating hospital or date of death.
To contact us about this story, email journalist Clair Weaver now.
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