WNV in Romania (Bucharest) 2001

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ProMED-mail reports an outbreak of West Nile Virus in Romania, with 2
cases of meningoencephalitis detected in Bucharest as of July 27 2001
(last Friday). The Bucharest area was the site of a significant
outbreak in 1996, when 352 people showed acute central nervous system
infections, and 17 patients older than 50 years died.

In the more detailed posting that follows, it may be of interest to
note (a) similarities and differences with the US' prevention and
control advisories, (b) large percentage of seroconversion among
domestic fowl (whereas chickens have not proved to be effective
sentinels in the US and Canada), (c) mention of an ongoing small
number of cases in the years since the major outbreak, and (d)
references to archived postings re: the 1996 outbreak, which can be
accessed from the ProMED website <http://www.promedmail.org>. -- LCL

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WEST NILE VIRUS - ROMANIA (BUCHAREST)
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A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

[see also:
1996

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West Nile virus meningitis - Romania      19960926.1628
West Nile virus meningitis - Romania (2) 19960926.1630
West Nile virus meningitis - Romania (3) 19960929.1648
West Nile virus meningitis - Romania (4) 19961015.1738]
Date: Fri 27 Jul 2001
From: Dr. Cornelia Ceianu <office@cantacuzino.ro>
Source: Translated from the July 27 edition of the Bucharest newspaper
"Ziua", (via VECTOR) [edited]
Mosquito Alert: Meningoencephalitis Returns to Bucharest
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BUCHAREST: As of 27 Jul 2001, 2 cases of meningoencephalitis have been
detected in Bucharest. This disease is caused by West Nile virus, which is
transmitted by mosquitoes, declared Verginia Marin Semen, head of the
Bucharest Public Health Department, on Thursday (26 Jul 2001), in a
statement for the Mediafax News Agency.
People are advised to be cautious, to protect themselves against
mosquitoes, to use window-nets, and to kill insects indoors. People are
[encouraged] to wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors after
sunset. Exposed parts of the body (face and hands) should be treated with
insect repellents. The Department of Public Health will notify the Mayor on
the occurrence of cases of West Nile virus-type meningoencephalitis, and
will request that insect control measures are undertaken urgently.
--
Dr. Cornelia Ceianu
Cantacuzino Institute
Bucharest, Romania
<office@cantacuzino.ro>
[A major epidemic of West Nile virus neurologic manifestations
occurred in Bucharest and southeastern Romania in 1996. In total 393
patients with serologically confirmed or probable West Nile virus
infection were identified, of whom 352 had acute central nervous
system infections, and 17 patients older than 50 years died. Fatality/case
ratio and disease incidence increased with age.
The outbreak was confined to 14 districts in the lower Danube valley
and Bucharest (attack rate 12.4/100 000 people) with a seroprevalence
of 4.1%. West Nile virus was recovered from _Culex pipiens_
mosquitoes, the most likely vector, and antibodies to West Nile virus
were found in 41% of domestic fowl. In subsequent years, neurologic
infections were diagnosed serologically as West Nile virus encephalitis
in a small number of patients in 19 southeastern districts and in
Bucharest.
Sentinel chickens placed in Bucharest seroconverted to West Nile virus
during the summer months. The continued occurrence of sporadic
West Nile virus infections in southeastern Romania in consecutive
years after the 1996 epidemic is consistent with local enzootic
transmission of the virus. - Mod.CP]
--
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