An investigation has been launched into a cluster of heart infections in babies in south Wales. One of the ten babies affected sadly died, and another remains in hospital.
The cases of severe enterovirus infections with myocarditis happened from June, 2022, and affected babies under 28 days old. There was then a peak in November and 10 babies in this cluster developed myocarditis.
Enterovirus is a common infection of childhood which can cause a range of symptoms. It rarely affects the heart, with most babies and children recovering completely. However, in very young babies, enterovirus can cause severe illness in the first few weeks of life, according to the Welsh Government.
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Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle which usually occurs following a virus. Eight out of the ten babies affected are being monitored as out patients. You can get more health news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
The Welsh Government made the announcement on Wednesday. Health minister Eluned Morgan said: "Parents should be reassured that, although there has been an increase in cases, this is still an extremely rare occurrence."
Public Health Wales (PHW) is leading the investigation and is working closely with the paediatric team at the Children's Hospital for Wales. Paediatricians in Wales have been advised and will continue to consider the possibility of myocarditis in babies presenting with sepsis (blood poisoning).
Wales has a good surveillance system in place for enterovirus and is engaged in a clinical study to understand this incident further and learn lessons, including changes in how infections circulate and population immunity following the pandemic.
The World Health Organisation has been informed about the cluster by PHW, under its International Health Regulations obligations because of the unusual and severe nature of the cases.
Dr Christopher Williams, consultant epidemiologist for PHW, said: “Enterovirus is a common infection of childhood, causing a range of infections including respiratory disease, hand, foot and mouth, and viral meningitis. In very young babies, enterovirus can, in rare cases, also cause a severe illness in the first few weeks of life. Most babies and children recover completely following enterovirus infection.
“It only affects the heart on very rare occasions. This cluster is unusual due to the number of cases reported in a relatively short time frame, and so investigations are now ongoing in collaboration with the paediatric team in the children’s hospital of Wales to understand the reasons why and to investigate any further cases that may be reported in the coming weeks and months."
PHW is urging parents and carers to take care and practice good hand hygiene, including washing hands thoroughly before and after changing nappies, after using the toilet, and before preparing food. It is also issuing a briefing to health professionals in Wales to inform them of the cluster. No outbreak has been declared.
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