Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/12995
Title
Unprecedented increase of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, Spain, summer 2020.
Author(s)
García San Miguel Rodríguez-Alarcón, Lucía | Fernandez Martinez, Beatriz ISCIII | Sierra Moros, María José | Vazquez, Ana ISCIII | Julián Pachés, Paula | García Villacieros, Elena | Gómez Martín, María Belén | Figuerola Borras, Jordi | Lorusso, Nicola | Ramos Aceitero, Julián Mauro | Moro, Elena | de Celis, Aránzazu | Oyonarte, Salvador | Mahillo, Beatriz | Romero González, Luis José | Sánchez-Seco, María Paz ISCIII | Suarez-Rodriguez, Berta ISCIII | Ameyugo Catalán, Ulises | Ruiz Contreras, Santiago | Perez-Olmeda, Mayte ISCIII | Simón Soria, Fernando
Date issued
2021-05
Citation
Euro Surveill. 2021 May;26(19).
Language
Inglés
Document type
review article
Abstract
Cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) in Spain increased in summer 2020. Here we report on this increase and the local, regional and national public health measures taken in response. We analysed data from regional surveillance networks and the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network, both for human and animal West Nile virus (WNV) infection. During the 2020 season, a total of 77 human cases of WNV infection (median age 65 years; 60% males) were detected in the south-west of Spain; 72 (94%) of these cases developed WNND, presenting as meningoencephalitis, seven of which were fatal. In the previous two decades, only six human cases of WNND were detected in Spain. Reduced activities for vector control this season, together with other factors, might have contributed to the massive increase. Public health measures including vector control, campaigns to raise awareness among physicians and the general population, and interventions to ensure the safety of donations of blood products, organs, cells and tissues were effective to reduce transmission. Going forward, maintenance of vector control activities and an update of the vector-borne diseases response plan in Spain is needed.
Subject
Spain | WNV | West Nile fever | West Nile virus | Epidemiology | Surveillance | Vector-borne infections | Viral infections
Online version
DOI
Collections