Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is endemic in the Balkan region and a few sporadic cases are reported on a regular basis. In the WHO European Region, Turkey remains the country that is most affected. The main vector for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, the tick Hyalomma marginatum, has a wide distribution in Europe.
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is an emerging pathogen in Europe. Outbreaks have a case fatality rate between 5% and 40%. There is no validated therapy and no safe vaccine.
Borreliosis, also known as Lyme disease, is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. Most cases can be treated with antibiotics. No vaccine is available.
Tickborne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infectious disease that attacks the central nervous system and can result in long-term neurological symptoms, and even death.
The focal distribution of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV; Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) appears to depend mainly on cofeeding transmission between infected Ixodes ricinus L. nymphs and uninfected larvae.
Main topics of the meeting will be : Collecting sand flies – Repositories for sand flies and sand fly colonies – Taxonomy and genetics – Ecology – Physiology and immunology – Sand fly Saliva and immune response to sand fly bites – Leishmania-sand fly interaction – Other pathogens in sand flies – Sand fly control as a part of integrated leishmaniasis control programs
The European network for arthropod vector surveillance for human public health (VBORNET), funded by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, holds its second annual general meeting at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, on 18-20 April 2011