Perinatal ECHOvirus Infection

To the Editor: The article by Modlin and his colleagues in the August 13 issue regarding perinatal echovirus 11 infection brought a wisp of déjà vu. The letter quoted below was submitted to the Journal in 1979 as a demonstration of in utero echovirus 11 infection. Although the excellent report by Modlin et al. documented neonatal infection, stillborn infants were not cultured for viruses. I think it is important to emphasize the potential that echoviruses may have for producing perinatal infection during community out-breaks. Echoviruses have been incriminated only sporadically as agents of antenatal disease, although their ability to cause.  . .