Monitoring Enterovirus Activity in a Tri-state Area: 1980 and 1981 Enterovirus Seasons

Abstract

Enterovirus cultures were performed on specimens submitted from institutions and physicians in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia during 1980 and 1981 for the months of June through November. The overall positive enterovirus culture rate was 9.4% in 1980 and 7.5% in 1981. Peaks occurred in August of both years: 27.1% and 13.1%, respectively. Forty-eight percent of patients with positive enterovirus cultures had clinical histories of aseptic meningitis. The predominant enterovirus isolated was echovirus.