Ongoing outbreak of West Nile virus infection in humans, Greece, July to August 2011

K Danis; A Papa; E Papanikolaou; G Dougas; I Terzaki; A Baka; G Vrioni; V Kapsimali; A Tsakris; A Kansouzidou; S Tsiodras; N Vakalis; S Bonovas; J Kremastinou

Ongoing outbreak of West Nile virus infection in humans, Greece, July to August 2011

Euro Surveill. 2011 Aug 25;16(34):19951.

Authors

K Danis¹, A Papa, E Papanikolaou, G Dougas, I Terzaki, A Baka, G Vrioni, V Kapsimali, A Tsakris, A Kansouzidou, S Tsiodras, N Vakalis, S Bonovas, J Kremastinou

Affiliation

¹ Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.

PMID: 21903037

Abstract

Between 16 July and 21 August 2011, 31 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease were reported from four regions in Greece. Of these, 17 occurred in districts that had not been affected in 2010. The reoccurrence of human cases in two consecutive years (following the large 2010 outbreak) and the spread of the virus in new areas suggest that West Nile virus is established in Greece, and its transmission may continue to occur in the future.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Animals
Culex / virology
Disease Outbreaks*
Female
Greece / epidemiology
Humans
Incidence
Insect Vectors / virology
Male
Middle Aged
Population Surveillance
West Nile Fever / blood
West Nile Fever / cerebrospinal fluid
West Nile Fever / epidemiology*
West Nile Fever / prevention & control
West Nile Fever / virology
West Nile virus / classification
West Nile virus / genetics
West Nile virus / isolation & purification