Infectious Diseases

Recent West Nile virus activity in Austria and Italy – 2008

In October 2008 Austria reported two outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV) in wild birds in North Austria and Vienna [1]. There are no human cases to date.

Last month, September 2008, WNV was isolated from horses and wild birds in Northern Italy in the Emilia Romagna region [2]. Subsequently two human cases were reported in the same region [3, 4]. These are the first two laboratory confirmed human cases of WNV in Italy. The first case was a female in her eighties living in a rural area between Ferrara and Bologna who developed symptoms on the 15 September 2008. A second case of WNV neuroinvasive disease was identified on 3 October in a man in his sixties [4]. People visiting the area should take appropriate measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes [5].

Defra has published preliminary outbreak assessments for WNV in both Austria and Italy [1]. There is continuing risk of disease introduction through wild birds into the UK and Defra are continuing to test wild birds for WNV in the UK. There is negligible risk of the establishment of WNV in the UK as a consequence of imported horses from these areas because of the very low levels of virus in an infected horse and the low numbers of suitable vectors.

Since 2002 the HPA has undertaken surveillance for human cases of West Nile virus in the UK and no indigenous cases of WNV have been found. In 2006 and 2007 there was one case each year of imported WNV infection in individuals who had visited Canada [6]. The HPA has updated their risk assessment on WNV but the implications for the UK have not changed. As long as effective control measures are in place the probability of WNV infection in the UK is minimal and the impact would be low.

The situation is continually monitored and reviewed - should the risk change the Department of Health contingency plan covers surveillance, prevention and control of WNV [7].

  1. West Nile Virus: Austria.
    http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/monitoring/pdf/wnv-austria.pdf
    See Defras preliminary outbreak assessments at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/monitoring/poa.htm
  2. Macini P, Squintani G, Finarelli AC, Angelini P, Martini E, Tamba M, et al. Detection of West Nile virus infection in horses, Italy, September 2008. Euro Surveill. 2008;13(39):pii=18990. Available from: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?Articleld=18990
  3. West Nile Virus - Italy. 20081007.3177 (7 October 2008)
    http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1202:1987160460011370::NO::F2400_P1202_CHECK_DISPLAY,F2400_P1202_PUB_MAIL_ID:X,74283
  4. Rossini G, Cavrini F, Pierro A, Macini P, Finarelli AC, Po C, et al. First human case of West Nile neuroinvasive infection in Italy, September 2008 - case report. Euro Surveill. 2008;13(41):pii=19002. Available from:
    http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19002
  5. NaTHNaC advice sheet on insect bite avoidance http://www.nathnac.org/pro/factsheets/iba.htm 
  6. Surveillance for West Nile virus in the UK. http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1199451960122?p=1199451960122
  7. Department of Health (2004). West Nile virus: A contingency plan to protect the public's health. Available from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4083548

Last reviewed: 22 October 2008



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