Unprecedented increase of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, Spain, summer 2020
Por:
Rodriguez-Alarcon, Lucia Garcia San Miguel, Fernandez-Martinez, Beatriz, Moros, Maria Jose Sierra, Vazquez, Ana, Paches, Paula Julian, Villacieros, Elena Garcia, Martin, Maria Belen Gomez, Borras, Jordi Figuerola, Lorusso, Nicola, Aceitero, Julian Mauro Ramos, Moro, Elena, de Celis, Aranzazu, Oyonarte, Salvador, Mahillo, Beatriz, Gonzalez, Luis Jose Romero, Sanchez-Seco, Maria Paz, Rodriguez, Berta Suarez, Catalan, Ulises Ameyugo, Contreras, Santiago Ruiz, Perez-Olmeda, Mayte, Soria, Fernando Simon
Publicada:
13 may 2021
Resumen:
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 pub-lic 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)
infec-tion. 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.
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