Following report of cases of locally transmitted dengue infection in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal, ECDC has produced a rapid risk assessment.
The US CDC reported an outbreak of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) associated with staying in the ’Signature Tent Cabins’ in the Boystown area of Curry Village at Yosemite National Park, California, USA.
On 7 and 10 July, the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) reported the first two human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Greece this year. When looking at the epidemiology of WNV infection in Greece since 2010, one can observe a progressive geographical expansion of WNV transmission throughout the country. For this reason, these newly confirmed cases in Athens do not come unexpected.
This rapid risk assessment assesses the potential risk for European travellers to Cuba after an outbreak of cholera in the Granma Province of the country.
The assessment teams reviewed the risks of potential re-establishment of malaria transmission in Greece, and proposed prevention measures in the specific areas concerned and across the country.
The ECDC risk, as assessed on 23 August 2011, remains unchanged. The main risk is to persons residing in, visiting and working in the affected areas of Greece, particularly Evrotas in Lakonia. The risk for further extension of malaria transmission into the EU as a result of this event is considered low at present. EU national blood competent authorities should be considering whether to implement deferral measures for persons returning from these specific affected areas in Greece, taking into consideration measures currently implemented by the Greek blood safety authorities and after a considered risk assessment in collaboration with their national public health authorities.
Greece reports six cases of Plasmodium vivax infection in Evrotas, Lakonia, Peloponnese region, and Chalkida in Evoia since June 2011. The main risk related to the current event is to persons living in, visiting and working in the particular area of Evrotas in the district of Lakonia (and potentially Chalkida in Evoia, though more information is needed) in Greece.
Following an unusually large and widespread outbreak of West Nile virus, ECDC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe conducted a joint visit to Romania to review the risk assessment of the virus in Romania.