Europe - West Nile Fever Outbreaks 2019 - Mediareports

[Gert van der Hoek]

Other cases of West Nile virus infection transmitted in Germany

24 10 2019

Epidemiological Bulletin 43/2019 reports on two other autochtonous cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in Germany (Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt). The onset of these cases is almost identical to that of the first case of mosquito-borne meningoencephalitis reported by WNV in Saxony in Epidemiological Bulletin 40/2019.

In addition, there are a few more possible cases still in clarification. Other diagnosed human diseases confirm that in parts of East Germany this summer there was a WNV infection risk for humans. It can therefore be assumed that there were additional undiagnosed infections in the late summer of 2019, but for the most part they were asymptomatic.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

[h=2]West Nile Virus - Situation in Germany[/h]
In monitoring programs, the Bernhard Nocht Institute and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, together with veterinary authorities, have been studying wild birds and mosquitoes on WNV for a long time and can thus detect an occurrence. In the summer months 2018 and 2019 - during the mosquito season - WNV findings (subtype 2) were reported in birds and horses, mainly in eastern Germany (see press release of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut dated 12.9.2019 ). Obviously, the virus circulates at least regionally between mosquitoes and birds in the summer months.

In recent years, cases have repeatedly been recorded in Germany among travelers from regions affected by West Nile fever. The first human case in Germany without a travel history, diagnosed in 2018, concerned a veterinarian who had probably become infected during the dissection of a bird that died of WNV.

In 2019, the first cases of West Nile fever transmitted by mosquitoes in Germany became known: the affected persons fell ill in the late summer of 2019 (see Epid Bull 40/2019 and Epid Bull 43/2019 ). Other possible cases are still under investigation. Since only a small proportion of those infected show symptoms and only one out of every 100 people is seriously ill, it can be assumed that there were additional undiagnosed infections in the late summer of 2019 (most of which were asymptomatic).

It can be expected that WNV will continue to establish itself in Germany and that in the coming years - especially in exceptionally warm and longer summers - there will be more mosquito-transmitted WNV cases even among people in Germany.

24 10 2019

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