GREECE - News reports re virus outbreak
Friday, 26 April, 2002

Travellers in Greece or shortly to travel there, may come across news items referring to an outbreak of heart disease caused by a virus.

On Tuesday April 23, the Ministry of Health ordered schools, universities and child care centres closed until the end of the week provisionally as a precautionary measure to limit the number of cases.

Although the cause has not yet been proven it is likely that this outbreak is caused by an entero virus similar to the one that caused outbreaks in Malaysia and Taiwan in recent years. A related virus causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease which is not unusual amongst children in Australia.

The total number of cases reported in Greece is under 40 and the measures undertaken by the health ministry in Athens should bring the outbreak under control quite quickly.

At this stage the risk to travellers is small and hopefully the outbreak will be contained to a specific area. Overseas expatriate resident in Greece should be aware that entero viruses can be found in respiratory tract secretions and stools of an infected person. Spread is by direct contact through close association or through exposure through contact with a contaminated surface eg, cups, glasses, telephones. Parents, school teachers, child care workers may have higher risk of exposure during outbreaks.

The initial symptoms present as a flu-like illness and children are especially vulnerable. The Travel Doctor will monitor the outbreak.

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