Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
16-09-2020 |
A Common Whitethroat has been tested positive for the West Nile virus in the Utrecht region. This virus mainly occurs in birds and is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is the first time that this virus has been found in the Netherlands.
The bird was caught at the end of August and tested under the One Health Pact. This is a consortium of experts, coordinated by the Erasmus MC Erasmus University Medical Center. The consortium is working on the development of an early warning system as part of a research project. The system must detect the introduction of a number of exotic viruses, including the West Nile virus, as early as possible.
Bird testing
More than a thousand healthy wild birds have been tested since the beginning of this year. This warbler is the first bird that has been tested positive for the West Nile virus in the Netherlands. In recent years, antibodies have been found in several birds in our country. That means they went through the infection. Because they were not migratory birds, these birds probably contracted the infection in (the vicinity of) the Netherlands.
Common Withethroat
The Common Whitethroat is a breeding bird in the Netherlands. They arrive in April and leave for Africa in late summer. Because the bird was tested positive in the summer, it is very likely that this bird contracted the virus in the Netherlands. The same bird was also caught in the spring and tested negative.
Research
In the Netherlands, various parties are conducting research into the occurrence of the West Nile virus in our country. Because the virus can also be transmitted to humans, it is discussed in the zoonotic structure. Follow-up actions can be initiated there if necessary. The RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, together with partners, is investigating whether and how any surveillance can be set up. As a result of the increasing spread of the virus in Europe, the working group “Preparation for surveillance and response West Nile virus” was set up in 2018. Participants are (in addition to RIVM): the NVWA Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Royal GD Animal Health Service, the Utrecht Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erasmus MC, the Dutch Wildlife Health Center and Sanquin.
West Nile virus
The West Nile virus has spread over many parts of the world in recent decades, including Southeastern and Central Europe and Germany. Infection occurs through infected mosquitoes. The mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds. These mosquitoes then spread the virus to other birds and sometimes to humans and other mammals, such as horses. This mainly happens in the summer months and early fall. The virus is not transmitted from humans to humans or from humans to animals via mosquitoes.
Contamination in humans
When people get infected, they usually don't get sick. About 80% will have no complaints at all, 20% will have mild symptoms such as fever and flu-like complaints. In exceptional cases, an infection can lead to serious neurological complaints. An infection with the virus has already been found in people in the Netherlands, but all these infections had been contracted abroad.
Infection in horses
Horses can also get complaints, unlike other (agricultural) pets. As with humans, infection with the West Nile virus is without (visible) symptoms in most horses. About 20% show mild symptoms such as loss of appetite, lethargy and fever. About 10% of the animals develop serious complaints. Vaccines are available for horses.
A Common Whitethroat has been tested positive for the West Nile virus in the Utrecht region. This virus mainly occurs in birds and is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is the first time that this virus has been found in the Netherlands.
The bird was caught at the end of August and tested under the One Health Pact. This is a consortium of experts, coordinated by the Erasmus MC Erasmus University Medical Center. The consortium is working on the development of an early warning system as part of a research project. The system must detect the introduction of a number of exotic viruses, including the West Nile virus, as early as possible.
Bird testing
More than a thousand healthy wild birds have been tested since the beginning of this year. This warbler is the first bird that has been tested positive for the West Nile virus in the Netherlands. In recent years, antibodies have been found in several birds in our country. That means they went through the infection. Because they were not migratory birds, these birds probably contracted the infection in (the vicinity of) the Netherlands.
Common Withethroat
The Common Whitethroat is a breeding bird in the Netherlands. They arrive in April and leave for Africa in late summer. Because the bird was tested positive in the summer, it is very likely that this bird contracted the virus in the Netherlands. The same bird was also caught in the spring and tested negative.
Research
In the Netherlands, various parties are conducting research into the occurrence of the West Nile virus in our country. Because the virus can also be transmitted to humans, it is discussed in the zoonotic structure. Follow-up actions can be initiated there if necessary. The RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, together with partners, is investigating whether and how any surveillance can be set up. As a result of the increasing spread of the virus in Europe, the working group “Preparation for surveillance and response West Nile virus” was set up in 2018. Participants are (in addition to RIVM): the NVWA Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Royal GD Animal Health Service, the Utrecht Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erasmus MC, the Dutch Wildlife Health Center and Sanquin.
West Nile virus
The West Nile virus has spread over many parts of the world in recent decades, including Southeastern and Central Europe and Germany. Infection occurs through infected mosquitoes. The mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds. These mosquitoes then spread the virus to other birds and sometimes to humans and other mammals, such as horses. This mainly happens in the summer months and early fall. The virus is not transmitted from humans to humans or from humans to animals via mosquitoes.
Contamination in humans
When people get infected, they usually don't get sick. About 80% will have no complaints at all, 20% will have mild symptoms such as fever and flu-like complaints. In exceptional cases, an infection can lead to serious neurological complaints. An infection with the virus has already been found in people in the Netherlands, but all these infections had been contracted abroad.
Infection in horses
Horses can also get complaints, unlike other (agricultural) pets. As with humans, infection with the West Nile virus is without (visible) symptoms in most horses. About 20% show mild symptoms such as loss of appetite, lethargy and fever. About 10% of the animals develop serious complaints. Vaccines are available for horses.
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