The First Case of Usutu Virus Neuroinvasive Disease in Austria, 2021

Marianne Graninger; Stefan Hubmer; Franz Riederer; Stephan Kettner; Martin Hauk; Tasnim Auf; Judith H Aberle; Karin Stiasny; Stephan W Aberle; Jeremy V Camp

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofac255

The First Case of Usutu Virus Neuroinvasive Disease in Austria, 2021

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2022 May 16;9(7):ofac255. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofac255. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
² Department of Neurology, Klinik Hietzing, Vienna, Austria.
³ Department for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Klinik Hietzing, Vienna, Austria.
⁴ Department for Cardiology, Klinik Floridsdorf, Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to West Nile virus (WNV) that is endemic in many European countries. We report the first case of USUV neuroinvasive disease in Austria and discuss challenges in differentiating USUV from WNV infections in areas where both viruses are endemic.

Keywords: Usutu virus; arbovirus; neuroinvasive disease; viral meningitis.