A 39-year-old woman presented at 34 weeks gestation with a febrile illness. This initially settled but recurred 6 days later, when uncontrolled vaginal bleeding necessitated caesarian section. At operation, vesicles were seen on the mother's hyperaemic uterus. The infant developed tachypnoea, bradycardia, cerebral irritation, an enlarged liver and spleen, intravascular coagulation and a transient rash. Mother and child made a full recovery. Coxsackie B2 virus was isolated from the infant and rises in the titre of Coxsackie B virus-specific IgM were detected in mother and child.