On 4 October 2017, Italy reported through the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) the detection of four Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases in the Apulia region. Cases are 21 to 37-year-old men, originally from Africa. All stated that they had been in Italy for more than three months. Dates for onset of symptoms ranged from 20 to 27 September 2017. The cases are agricultural workers in Ginosa and Castellaneta. Malaria vectors such as Anopheles labranchiae and Anopheles superpictus are present in Italy.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 17-23 September 2017, and includes updates on malaria, typhoid fever, Chikungunya, legionnaires' disease and West Nile fever.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 10-16 September 2017 and includes updates on cholera, measles, rubella, Legionnaires' disease, West Nile virus, malaria, chikungunya, and typhoid fever.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 27 August - 2 September 2017 and includes updates on measles, MERS, West Nile fever and Chikungunya.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 6–12 August 2017 and includes updates on poliomyelitis, cholera, measles, Legionnaires' disease, West Nile virus, seasonal influenza, and malaria.
Hantavirus infections are widely distributed across Europe, with the exception of some Mediterranean countries which reported a very low number of cases.
Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses can be transmitted to humans by contact with faeces/urine from infected rodents or with dust containing infective particles. They may cause severe diseases. Eliminating contact with rodents is the best way to prevent infection.
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. During the 20th century, malaria was eradicated from many temperate areas, including the whole of the EU. As a result, the disease is now essentially limited to tropical countries. Due to the large number of imported cases in Europe, malaria is mainly a travel medicine issue.