Enterovirus 68 and Human Respiratory Infections

This chapter deals with Enterovirus 68 (EV68). It provides an overview of the current knowledge of EV68, from virology to clinical disease patterns and prevention and control. EV68 was first isolated in 1962 in respiratory samples received from four children with pneumonia and bronchiolitis, using primary monkey-kidney cell cultures. Patients with a respiratory disease are generally not systematically tested for the presence of enterovirus. From 2009 onward, a growing number of reports have been published describing outbreaks or clusters of EV68 infection, indicating that EV68 is an emerging respiratory pathogen. Transmission of EV68 from one person to the other most likely occurs via the respiratory route. Similar to other viruses causing respiratory tract infections, hand contact with respiratory secretions and autoinoculation to the mouth, nose, or eyes are probably the most important routes. Nosocomial transmission has been well documented for respiratory viruses and for enteroviruses.