Named after the island of Bornholm in the Baltic, where several epidemics have been described, and also known as devil's grip, and epidemic myalgia, this is an acute infective disease due to COXSACKIE VIRUSES. It is characterised by the abrupt onset of pain around the lower margin of the ribs, headache, and fever; it occurs in epidemics, usually during warm weather, and is more common in young people than in old. The illness usually lasts seven to ten days.