Epidemiology, Parvovirus B19, surveillance, outbreak investigation, health protection, public health
Summary:
Parvovirus B19 is the cause of a common childhood infection, erythema infectiosum, also known as "slapped cheek" syndrome or fifth disease.
Parvovirus B19 usually causes a mild self-limiting illness. However, it is important to identify it as it can cause complications in pregnancy and also among people who are immunocompromised or who have haemoglobinopathies e.g sickle cell disease.
There is no specific treatment for parvovirus B19. However, it is important that pregnant women who have been exposed to parvovirus B19 are investigated even if they are asymptomatic as there may be associated risks to the developing foetus.
An increased incidence of parvovirus B19 occurs every 3 to 5 years. It is seasonal, with increases in infection in late spring and early summer, the majority of cases occurring between March and July. The cyclical increase in parvovirus B19 is reflected in the recent analysis of Irish data from the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) which identified a total of 139 laboratory confirmed cases to date in 2018 compared to an annual total of 215 cases for 2017 and 75 cases in 2016. Parvovirus B19 is not a notifiable disease in Ireland.