Pregnancy & Non-Polio Enterovirus Infection

If a pregnant woman is infected with a non-polio enterovirus shortly before delivery, there is a chance she can pass the virus to her baby. These babies usually have only mild illness, but in rare cases they may have severe infection.

Non-polio enteroviruses are very common, so a pregnant woman is likely to be exposed at some point in her pregnancy to someone who is infected, especially in the summer and fall. But most pregnant women, like other adults, have immunity (protection) from previous exposures to non-polio enteroviruses. So if she does get infected she will likely not have symptoms or will only have mild illness. Pregnant women without immunity to non-polio enteroviruses have a greater chance of getting infected and having symptoms.

There is no clear evidence that non-polio enterovirus infection during pregnancy increases the risk of severe complications like miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital defects.

For more information, see Symptoms of non-polio enterovirus infection.