First detection of echovirus 18 associated with aseptic meningitis in a child in Niger Republic, 2024: a case report
BMC Infectious Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12879-025-11674-z
- PMID
- 41126107
- PMCID
- PMC12542352
- OpenAlex
- W4415420310
- Study type
- Genomic study
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
This represents the first reported case of echovirus 18-associated aseptic meningitis in Niger. The authors emphasize the need for strengthened surveillance of viral meningitis etiologies in the country and further studies to understand prevalence, molecular epidemiology, and re-emergence risk of echovirus 18.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
This case report describes the first detection of echovirus 18 in association with aseptic meningitis in a pediatric patient from Niger Republic.
Study design
Single case report with whole genome sequencing performed on a blood sample to confirm viral etiology.
Population and setting
A 13-year-old boy with sickle cell anemia (SS form) who had recently traveled from a neighboring country, admitted to the National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Anemia in Niamey, Niger, in November 2024.
Main findings
Whole genome sequencing confirmed echovirus 18 as the etiological agent in a fatal case presenting with severe anemia, renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, high fever, persistent headaches, and febrile convulsions. The patient died six days after symptom onset despite medical care and compensatory treatment.
Public-health relevance
This represents the first reported case of echovirus 18-associated aseptic meningitis in Niger. The authors emphasize the need for strengthened surveillance of viral meningitis etiologies in the country and further studies to understand prevalence, molecular epidemiology, and re-emergence risk of echovirus 18.
Important limitations
This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata. The case report describes a single patient, and the relationship between the fatal outcome and underlying sickle cell anemia versus echovirus 18 infection cannot be definitively determined without the full paper and additional clinical details.
GIDS interpretation
This article is classified under aseptic meningitis, Niger, and genomic epidemiology topics, making it discoverable through disease-specific, geographic, and methodological search pathways. The classification reflects its contribution to understanding viral meningitis etiologies in West Africa.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 11 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.