Outbreak of West Nile virus infection in humans, Romania, July to October 2010

A total of 57 cases of West Nile virus infection (54 with neuroinvasive infection and three with fever) were identified in Romania between July and October 2010. The median age of the cases was 53.4 years, with the highest incidence in the age group 60–69 years. The case fatality rate was 8.8%. Cases were distributed in 19 districts in the southern, western, central and eastern parts of the country. Molecular investigation revealed lineage 2 West Nile virus, related to the Volgograd 2007 strain

Permissive summer temperatures of the 2010 European West Nile fever upsurge.

BACKGROUND: In the summer of 2010, Europe experienced outbreaks of West Nile Fever (WNF) in humans, which was preceded by hot spells. The objective of this study was to identify potential drivers of these outbreaks, such as spring and summer temperatures, relative humidity (RH), and precipitation. METHODS: Pearson and lag correlations, binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used to assess the relationship between the climatic parameters and these outbreaks. RESULTS: For human morbidity, significant (<0.05) positive correlations were observed between a number of WNF cases and temperature, with a geographic latitude gradient: northern ("colder") countries displayed strong correlations with a lag of up to four weeks, in contrast to southern ("warmer") countries, where the response was immediate. The correlations with RH were weaker, while the association with precipitation was not consistent. Horse morbidity started three weeks later than in humans where integrated surveillance was conducted, and no significant associations with temperature or RH were found for lags of 0 to 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Significant temperature deviations during summer months might be considered environmental precursors of WNF outbreaks in humans, particularly at more northern latitudes. These insights can guide vector abatement strategies by health practitioners in areas at risk for persistent transmission cycles

Cumulative numbers of reported WNV cases in humans and horses (all countries) during spring and summer 2010 (artificial week 10 is from 3 May to 9 May).

<p>Cumulative numbers of reported WNV cases in humans and horses (all countries) during spring and summer 2010 (artificial week 10 is from 3 May to 9 May).</p

Multinomial Logistic Regression results between summer temperatures and WNF cases for selected European/neighboring locations, 2010.

<p>Note: P-value of all results <0.05. Bold results are significant according to the Šidák correction (α critical = 0.01021).</p

Weekly temperature anomalies (C°) during spring and summer 2010 for selected European stations (artificial week 10 precedes the disease upsurge by two months).

<p>Note: Deviation computed by subtracting weekly mean temperature of 2010 from the weekly perennial average temperature. A: Volgograd, Russia. B: Constanta, Romania. C: Thessaloniki, Greece.</p

The meteorological stations at the main locations of WNV outbreaks in humans and horses, and a comparison with bird migration tracks over the study area in spring.

<p>The meteorological stations at the main locations of WNV outbreaks in humans and horses, and a comparison with bird migration tracks over the study area in spring.</p

Pearson and lag correlation coefficients (mean, minimum, and maximum) for weekly average temperatures and dates of WNF case onset at selected European/neighboring stations, 2010.

<p>Note: Bold values = significant results at p<0.05.</p

A five-year perspective on the situation of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and status of the hantavirus reservoirs in Europe, 2005-2010

Hantavirus infections are reported from many countries in Europe and with highly variable annual case numbers. In 2010, more than 2,000 human cases were reported in Germany, and numbers above the baseline have also been registered in other European countries. Depending on the virus type human infections are characterised by mild to severe forms of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The member laboratories of the European Network for diagnostics of Imported Viral Diseases present here an overview of the progression of human cases in the period from 2005 to 2010. Further we provide an update on the available diagnostic methods and endemic regions in their countries, with an emphasis on occurring virus types and reservoirs