Ongoing outbreak of maternal parvovirus B19 infections in Germany since end of 2023: consequence of COVID-19 pandemic?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the ongoing parvovirus B19 (B19V) outbreak among pregnant women in Germany and its connection to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed anonymous data regarding serologically confirmed B19V infections during pregnancy between January 2014 and April 2024 across 13 major fetal medicine centers in Germany. We evaluated the yearly frequency of B19V cases, cases that underwent intrauterine transfusion (IUT), cases presenting with hydrops fetalis and cases of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) related to B19V infection, and stratified these variables by event occurrence < 20 weeks' gestation or ≥ 20 weeks' gestation. Variables were compared across three subperiods: pre COVID-19 pandemic, during the C

SUBMITTER: Jimenez Cruz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11961107 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature