West Nile fever maps, 16 August 2012: 13 new human cases in the EU, 18 in its neighbourhood

Thirteen new human cases of West Nile fever have been reported for the EU and 18 for its neighbourhood over the past week.

Thirteen new cases were reported in Greece by the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO). Most cases were found in areas with previous case reports: in the prefectures of Attiki (3), Achaia (1) and Xanthi (7). Two probable cases come from the newly affected prefectures, Aitoloakarnania and Kavala. New cases and affected areas in Greece are not unexpected given that since 2010 there has been progressive geographical expansion of West Nile virus transmission throughout the country, as stated in the recently published ECDC risk assessment on the epidemiological situation of West Nile fever in Greece.

In neighbouring countries, Russia reported 17 new cases in Astrakhanskaya oblast, an area with previous case reports. In Tunisia, EpiSouth reported one West Nile laboratory confirmed neuroinvasive case in a patient living in the Monastir governorate, a coastal area with records of previous West Nile fever outbreaks in 1997 and 2003 (see Weekly Epi Bulletin n°230).

Every Friday ECDC publishes on its website the West Nile fever maps, the information being based on cases reported up to the Thursday of each week.