West Nile Virus (Update)
21 Oct 2016
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
monitor the West Nile Virus (WNV) transmission in Europe and neighboring countries.
Since the beginning of the 2016 transmission season up until the 6 October 2016, a total of 188 cases of WNV have been reported in humans from the EU Member States and 230 cases from neighboring countries.
During the past week, Hungary reported 9 new WNV cases; all in already affected areas: Budapest (1), Hajdu-Bihar (1), Pest (4) and Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg (3). Italy has reported 3 new cases; all in already affected provinces: Bologna (1) and Cremona (2). Romania has reported 5 new cases; 1 from the newly affected Cluj county and 4 from already affected areas: Bacau, Bucuresti, Constanta and Prahova. In neighboring countries; Serbia has reported 1 new confirmed case in Grad Beograd, an already affected area.
Advice for Travellers
WNV is spread by mosquitoes. All travellers should be advised to practice Mosquito Bite Avoidance, especially from dusk till dawn during peak transmission times and when epidemics are known to be occurring. No vaccine is available against WNV.
NOTE: WNV can also be passed on by blood transfusion, consequently blood donors that have visited a WNV risk area four months prior to donation may have their donation tested for WNV. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service have produced a leaflet which details information about blood donation after travel: