Communicable disease threats report, 16-22 August 2015, week 34
The ECDC communicable disease threats report is a weekly bulletin intended for epidemiologists and health professionals in the area of communicable disease prevention and control. Summarising information gathered by ECDC through its epidemic intelligence activities regarding communicable disease threats of concern to the European Union, it also provides updates on the global situation and changes in the epidemiology of communicable diseases with potential to affect Europe, including diseases that are the focus of eradication efforts.
Executive Summary
This issue covers the period of 16 to 22 August 2015 and includes updates on a case of chikungunya in Spain, meningococcal disease associated with Scout Jamboree in Japan, and monitoring of West Nile fever in Europe.
Case of chikungunya without travel history to endemic areas in Spain
On 3 August 2015, Spain notified about a case of chikungunya virus infection in a resident in the city of Gandia, Community of Valencia. The patient is a 60-year-old male with no history of travel outside the EU in the previous three months. ECDC published a Rapid Risk Assessment on 24 August concluding that Europe is vulnerable to transmission of chikungunya virus as it gets imported from endemic areas around the world and established among competent vectors during the summer season (see Mosquito maps).
Cases of meningococcal disease in scouts who returned from Scout Jamboree in Japan
Two EU countries, the UK (Scotland) and Sweden, have reported eight cases (five confirmed and three suspected cases) of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in scouts recently returned from the 23rd World Scout Jamboree and their contacts.
ECDC published a Rapid Risk Assessment on 21 August concluding that further microbiological and molecular studies are needed to prove that the cases are linked, while cases of IMD are not unexpected in relation to mass gathering events such as this one.
West Nile fever in Europe
Since the beginning of the 2015 transmission season and as of 20 August, 13 human cases of WNF have been reported in EU Member States: Italy (8), Romania (2), Bulgaria (1), Hungary (1) and Austria (1). Ten cases have been detected in neighbouring countries: Israel (9) and Serbia (1).During WNF season, ECDC provides weekly situation updates.
Download
