Parvovirus and Pregnancy
What is parvovirus?
Parvovirus B19 (also called slapped cheek syndrome or Fifth Disease) is a virus that commonly infects children. Seasonal outbreaks of Parvovirus B19 occur every three – four years in the UK, mainly in Spring and early Summer. You may have heard recently (September 2024) that reported cases of parvovirus B19 began to increase at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024, activity has now surpassed the levels seen in the most recent previous peak years.
For most healthy people, Parvovirus B19 causes a mild, self-limiting illness which is followed by life-long immunity. It is thought that 60% of all adults in the UK have been infected with Parvovirus and are therefore immune.
The Human Parvovirus B19 is not the same Parvovirus that vets may be concerned about in pets, especially dogs, and it cannot be passed from humans to animals or vice versa.
Why should contact with parvovirus be reported or investigated during pregnancy?
Pregnant women are not routinely screened for past parvovirus B19 infection as there is no vaccine or preventative treatment available. However, if you come into contact with anyone who is infected, you should talk to your GP or midwife, who will carry out a blood test to check whether you’re immune.
Will parvovirus affect my pregnancy/baby?
It is unusual to catch a parvovirus infection for the first time in pregnancy. If you do, it is possible (in about 30% of cases) that your baby may develop the infection, too. The parvovirus infection can travel across the placenta (this delivers oxygen and nutrients to your baby during pregnancy) to your growing baby through the umbilical cord. If your baby develops a parvovirus infection, it can cause the following complications:
- Fetal anaemia – a very small number of babies infected by parvovirus may become unwell in the womb with a condition called ‘fetal anaemia’. Fetal anaemia occurs when the levels of red blood cells in an unborn baby’s blood are lower than normal. Most babies who become anaemic will get better without any treatment and your maternity team will keep a close watch on you and your baby throughout the rest of your pregnancy
- Miscarriage or stillbirth – the likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth is extremely rare and depends on how many weeks pregnant you are when your baby develops the infection. Early in the pregnancy (between 4 and 20 weeks), the risk of miscarriage is higher, affecting up to 13% of infected babies. Later in the pregnancy (after 20 weeks), the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth is much lower, affecting less than 1% of infected babies.
It is important to remember that most babies will be healthy and will not be infected or affected by the virus.
How can I protect myself and others?
To reduce your risk of catching parvovirus or infecting others, as with any virus, you should:
- wash your hands regularly with soap and water
- cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
- not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth
- avoid close contact with people who are feeling unwell (close contact means being in the same room as the person for 15 minutes or more, or having face-to-face contact with the person for any length of time)
- stay at home when you are feeling unwell.