Spain - First local case of chikungunya infection was false alarm, new tests show

[Gert van der Hoek]

July 31, 2015

Health reveals a case of chikungunya in Gandia

• The disease causes high fever, muscle aches, headache, nausea and rashes | The victim, a 60-year-old home is fully recovered
• The Department of Public Salut i Universal Sanitat reports a case of native chikungunya virus disease. This is a man of 60 who lives and works in Gandia. Friday have been known serological tests carried out have confirmed the diagnosis. The affected is at home and fully recovered.

According to the Ministry of Health, dated July 12 they had been diagnosed 86 cases of chikungunya this year in Spain. Of these, 18 in Valencia. They were all imported cases (patients who were infected in countries where the disease is endemic and who developed symptoms on his return).

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.who.int/csr/don/10-august...hikungunya/en/

Chikungunya ? Spain

Disease outbreak news
10 August 2015

On 3 August 2015, WHO was notified by the National IHR Focal Point for Spain of a case of chikungunya infection in the city of Gandia, Valencian Community. This is the first time that an individual with no history of travel to a chikungunya-endemic area tests positive for the disease in Spain.
Details of the case

The patient is a 60-year-old man. He developed symptoms on 7 July in France and sought medical care on 8 July while still in France. Following his return to Spain, the patient was hospitalized on 11 July and discharged on 16 July. Patient blood samples were collected on 23 July. On 31 July, he was laboratory confirmed to be positive for chikungunya by identification of IgM in serum by ELISA testing. During his probable incubation period and while symptomatic ? this is the period when a patient can acquire the infection and transmit it to others ? the patient stayed in the Valencian Community, Spain and in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, France where the competent vector Aedes albopictus has been shown to be present.
Public health response

Spanish health authorities are carrying out epidemiological and entomological investigations as well as establishing vector control measures. National health authorities in France have informed local health authorities, which are implementing vector control activities in the areas visited by the patient.
WHO advice

WHO encourages countries to develop and maintain the clinical and laboratory capacity to detect and confirm cases, manage patients and implement social communication strategies to engage the community in reducing the presence of the mosquito vectors.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Chikungunya case in Spain without travel history to endemic areas

21 August 2015

Main conclusions and options for response

? This is the first chikungunya case reported from Spain without travel history to endemic areas. The infection occurred most likely in the city of Gand?a, Valencia community. The case developed symptoms on 7 July while travelling in France. It is very unlikely that the infection occurred in France because of the short duration of the case?s stay in the H?rault district and the fact that no imported chikungunya cases were reported in this district in France in 2015

. ? Europe is vulnerable to the autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus. The risk for onward transmission in Europe is linked to importation of virus by viraemic patients in areas with competent vectors (Aedes albopictus in mainland Europe, primarily around the Mediterranean, and Aedes aegypti on Madeira). Autochthonous transmission from an imported viraemic chikungunya case during the summer season in the EU is possible.

? Exposure to infected mosquitoes is the principal risk for infection in currently affected areas. Prevention of chikungunya is essentially based on vector control and personal protection against mosquito bites.

? Travellers returning from outbreak areas should seek medical care if presenting with symptoms consistent with chikungunya. Such measures reduce the risk of viral introduction to the European mosquito population and also limit the establishment of a local cycle of transmission during the summer season.

? Preparedness regarding chikungunya in the EU requires the capacity to detect possible cases in areas with presence of the competent vectors; strengthened surveillance systems, including laboratory capacity for the confirmation and rapid notification of cases (based on a standardised case definition); the review of contingency plans for mosquito-borne outbreaks; education and collaboration of the general public on how to control mosquito breeding sites; strengthened vector surveillance systems; and rapid implementation of vector control measures around each case.

? EU blood safety authorities need to be vigilant regarding the epidemiological situation in outbreak areas.

[Gert van der Hoek]

11 SEP 2015

First case of chikungunya infection in Spain was false alarm, new tests show


A second test Carried out in a laboratory Madrid Came back negative and a third confirmed the new result

A man Valencia Identified in July as the first person to Have contracted the chikungunya virus from an infected mosquito in Spain did not in fact suffer from the disease, new tests Have confirmed.
The first result was a false positive, Valencia regional health Officials Said on Thursday, meaning That all cases of chikungunya so far Have Been Recorded in Spain contracted outside the country.