There are occasional national or regional outbreaks of aseptic meningitis, such as the echovirus 30 outbreaks in the United States between 1989 and 1992. However, there is significant yearly variation, and no long-term trends have been identified. No vaccine is currently available for the non-polio enteroviruses. General cleanliness and frequent handwashing are probably effective in reducing the spread of these viruses. State health department laboratories report to CDC the enteroviruses they identify by testing specimens from patients.
Aseptic meningitis is no longer a nationally notifiable disease in the United States.
Other forms of meningitis and poliomyelitis are notifiable, which means that any doctor or laboratory that diagnoses a case must report it to the public health department. This page was last reviewed November 6, 2000.