Cases of acute respiratory infection with myocarditis and pericarditis in Greece – April 2002

Greek authorities have been investigating a seeming outbreak of acute respiratory infection followed by myocarditis and/or pericarditis. Three deaths in young and middle aged adults took place in April (the first on 5 April, two in Crete and one in Northern Greece). Following the second death, Greek authorities initiated intense surveillance nationwide with a case definition of myocarditis and/or pericarditis (diagnosed with a combination of clinical, laboratory investigations) preceded within ten days by upper respiratory tract infection.