Communicable disease threats report, 13-19 Sep 2015, week 38

This issue covers the period 13 to 19 September 2015 and includes updates on West Nile fever, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and MERS.

West Nile fever

In the past week, Italy reported five new cases of West Nile fever, four from already affected provinces (Cremona, Lodi, Modena, Reggio Emilia) and one from the newly affected province of Milano. Romania reported a new case from the newly affected area county of Mehedinti. Twenty cases were detected in neighbouring countries: Israel (14), Russia (3) and Serbia (3).

During the June-to-November transmission season, ECDC monitors the situation in EU Member States and neighbouring countries in order to inform blood safety authorities of West Nile fever-affected areas and identify significant changes in the epidemiology of the disease.

 

See the weekly updated West Nile fever maps for more detailed information.

 

Ebola virus disease

According to the latest WHO situation report published on 16 September 2015, five confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease were reported in the week up to 13 September, all from Sierra Leone. For the first week in over 12 months, no new confirmed cases have been reported from Guinea. However, a new case has been reported on 16 September by the Ministry of Health.

Middle East respiratory syndrome

Since 10 September 2015, Saudi Arabia has reported 14 additional MERS cases and 7 deaths in previously reported cases. According to WHO EMRO 11 cases of laboratory confirmed MERS-CoV have been reported in Jordan between 26 August and 9 September 2015. Five of the 11 patients have died.