Invasive Enterovirus and Parechovirus Infections in Adults, Alberta, Canada, 2023–2025
Abstract
We conducted a retrospective, population-based laboratory surveillance study during May 2023–December 2025 in Alberta, Canada, to characterize adult invasive enterovirus and parechovirus infections and to identify groups at high risk for those infections. Of 15,621 samples tested, 162 (1.0%) were virus positive, of which 51 (31.5%) samples from 39 patients indicated invasive infections. Cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and cardiac tissue were the most frequent virus-positive specimens. The invasive enterovirus and parechovirus incidence rate was 0.37 cases/100,000 person-years; rates were higher in patients <50 versus >50 years of age (incidence rate ratio 8.2; p<0.001). The annual incidence rates were 0.20–0.56 cases/100,000 person-years; rates appeared higher in 2025 than in 2024 (incidence rate ratio 2.1; p = 0.11). Severe disseminated enterovirus infection occurred in 2 patients who received ocrelizumab. Continuous surveillance and ongoing optimization of enterovirus and parechovirus detection assays is essential for comprehensive public health tracking.
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BibTeX
@article{kanji2026invasive,
title = {{Invasive Enterovirus and Parechovirus Infections in Adults, Alberta, Canada, 2023–2025}},
author = {Jamil N. Kanji and Hong Yuan Zhou and Nathan Zelyas and Kanti Pabbaraju and Anita Wong and Kara Gill and Tarah Lynch and Graham Tipples and Nabeela Nathoo and Dima Kabbani and Adil Adatia},
journal = {Emerging Infectious Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3201/eid3211.260941},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3211.260941},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Invasive Enterovirus and Parechovirus Infections in Adults, Alberta, Canada, 2023–2025
AU - Jamil N. Kanji
AU - Hong Yuan Zhou
AU - Nathan Zelyas
AU - Kanti Pabbaraju
AU - Anita Wong
AU - Kara Gill
AU - Tarah Lynch
AU - Graham Tipples
AU - Nabeela Nathoo
AU - Dima Kabbani
AU - Adil Adatia
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
DO - 10.3201/eid3211.260941
UR - https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3211.260941
AB - We conducted a retrospective, population-based laboratory surveillance study during May 2023–December 2025 in Alberta, Canada, to characterize adult invasive enterovirus and parechovirus infections and to identify groups at high risk for those infections. Of 15,621 samples tested, 162 (1.0%) were virus positive, of which 51 (31.5%) samples from 39 patients indicated invasive infections. Cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and cardiac tissue were the most frequent virus-positive specimens. The invasive enterovirus and parechovirus incidence rate was 0.37 cases/100,000 person-years; rates were higher in patients <50 versus >50 years of age (incidence rate ratio 8.2; p<0.001). The annual incidence rates were 0.20–0.56 cases/100,000 person-years; rates appeared higher in 2025 than in 2024 (incidence rate ratio 2.1; p = 0.11). Severe disseminated enterovirus infection occurred in 2 patients who received ocrelizumab. Continuous surveillance and ongoing optimization of enterovirus and parechovirus detection assays is essential for comprehensive public health tracking.
SN - 1080-6040
SN - 1080-6059
ER -