Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), full PDF document: (LINK). Extract.]
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT
Week 32, 4-10 August 2013
(?)
West Nile virus - Multistate (Europe) - Monitoring season 2013
Opening date: 3 June 2013 Latest update: 8 August 2013
Epidemiological summary
As of 9 August 2013, 18 human cases of West Nile fever have been reported in the EU and 75 cases in neighbouring countries.
EU Member States
On 31 July, the circulation of WNV positive mosquitoes in the provincial areas of Bologna and Modena in Italy lead the General Directorate of Health and Social Policies of the Emilia-Romagna Region to activate testing and blood deferral protocols.
(?)
ECDC assessment
West Nile fever in humans is a notifiable disease in the EU. The implementation of control measures are considered important for ensuring blood safety by the national health authorities when human cases of West Nile fever occur. According to the EU blood directive, efforts should be made to defer blood donations from affected areas with ongoing virus transmission.
Actions
ECDC produces weekly West Nile fever risk maps during the transmission season to inform blood safety authorities regarding affected areas.
ECDC published a West Nile fever risk assessment tool on 3 July 2013.
(?)
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COMMUNICABLE DISEASE THREATS REPORT
Week 32, 4-10 August 2013
(?)
West Nile virus - Multistate (Europe) - Monitoring season 2013
Opening date: 3 June 2013 Latest update: 8 August 2013
Epidemiological summary
As of 9 August 2013, 18 human cases of West Nile fever have been reported in the EU and 75 cases in neighbouring countries.
EU Member States
- Greece
- Seventeen cases of WNF have been reported in Greece. The regions affected are Attiki (12), Thessaloniki (3), Imathia (1) and Xanthi (1). Attiki has reported six probable and six confirmed cases, Thessalonki has recorded two probable and one confirmed case whilst Imathia and Xanthi have both reported one probable case each, according to the EU case definition.
- Italy
- Italy reported its first confirmed case of WNF in Rovigo province, Veneto region. This province was not affected in 2012.
- Russia
- Twenty-seven cases of WNF have been reported in Russia: seven cases in Astrakhanskaya oblast, 16 cases in Volgograd oblast and four cases in Saratovskaya oblast.
- Serbia
- As of 7 August, 29 cases have been reported in Grad Beograd (Belgrade) and surrounding regions Sremski, Juzno-banatski, Juzno-backi, Kolubarski and Podunavski, which are newly affected areas this year.
- The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- On 24 July, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia reported its first case of the year in Kocani (Eastern Macedonia).
- Israel
- Israel has recorded 18 cases of WNF (5 confirmed and 15 probable) to date, the majority of cases have been reported in the Central and Haifa districts.
On 31 July, the circulation of WNV positive mosquitoes in the provincial areas of Bologna and Modena in Italy lead the General Directorate of Health and Social Policies of the Emilia-Romagna Region to activate testing and blood deferral protocols.
(?)
ECDC assessment
West Nile fever in humans is a notifiable disease in the EU. The implementation of control measures are considered important for ensuring blood safety by the national health authorities when human cases of West Nile fever occur. According to the EU blood directive, efforts should be made to defer blood donations from affected areas with ongoing virus transmission.
Actions
ECDC produces weekly West Nile fever risk maps during the transmission season to inform blood safety authorities regarding affected areas.
ECDC published a West Nile fever risk assessment tool on 3 July 2013.
(?)
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