Communicable disease threats report, 27 Sep - 3 Oct 2015, week 40

This issue covers the period 27 September to 3 October 2015, and includes updates on West Nile virus, measles, MERS and Ebola virus disease.

West Nile virus – monitoring season 2015

 New cases of West Nile virus reported this week. During the past week, Hungary reported four new cases of West Nile virus, two cases from areas which were already affected, and two cases from newly affected counties. Serbia reported five new cases from two already affected areas.

Measles – monitoring European outbreaks

Two additional cases of measles reported in BerlinSince the last update, Germany reported two additional cases of measles in Berlin, one of which was hospitalised. This brings the total number of cases since this time last year up to 1 359.

Middle East respiratory syndrome – coronavirus (MERS CoV) - multistate

Four new MERS cases reported in the last week. Since 24 September, WHO has acknowledged four new cases of MERS, including one death in Jordan. Two of these cases were previously reported by the Jordanian Ministry of Health. Saudi Arabia reported one additional case and four deaths among previously reported cases.

Ebola virus disease – West Africa – 2014–2015

Four confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease were reported in Guinea. Four confirmed cases of EVD reported from Guinea last week were all confirmed contacts of a 10-year-old girl who sought treatment in Forecariah after travelling from Conakry and who subsequently died. Over 450 contacts are now under follow-up in Guinea due to the movement of a contact associated with the aforementioned chain of transmission.