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Health authorities on both sides of the state line are investigating infections among 14 Kansas City area infants with a virus that can cause meningitis, as well as widespread inflammation, serious enough to require intensive care.
Shawnee Mission Medical Center health officials told KCTV5 News that there is no link to just one hospital in the metro.
But so far the infected babies born at metro hospitals have the rare and life-threatening virus. The infections have been caused by HPeV3, one of a group of viruses called human parechoviruses.
The Kansas City Star reports the first cases of a strain of a human parechovirus were discovered in June.
Children’s Mercy released a newsletter about the virus back in 2010.
According to that newsletter, the infections happen in babies less than 90 days old. Symptoms include fever, irritability and rash.
The newsletter also said it seems to be a summer-time disease with peak months in July through October.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Aimee Rosenow says none of the infants has died from HPeV3, but all have been hospitalized. Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital have reported cases.
Rosenow says it’s unclear if the infections are connected. Nine of the children are from Kansas and the rest are Missouri residents.
Rosenow says the department is working with the Missouri Health Department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if there have been other infections.
Agencies/Canadajournal
