The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says 19 cases of human West Nile fever have been confirmed in the European Union (EU) since the transmission season began in June.  

Image/Robert Herriman
Image/Robert Herriman

In its latest epidemiological update issued on July 20, the center said the six new cases for the week ending July 19 included three from Greece, two from Romania and one from Hungary.

“All human cases were reported from (EU) regions that have been affected during previous transmission seasons. This week, two outbreaks among equids were reported: one in Greece and another in Italy. As of 19 July 2018, 19 human cases have been reported in EU/EEA member states by Greece (12), Italy (4), Romania (2) and Hungary (1),” the ECDC said.

Italy, Hungary and Greece have reported one case each of West Nile fever among equids since the beginning of the transmission season. The ECDC noted that all human cases from the current transmission season were from previously affected EU member states.

All 29 cases of the human West Nile fever in states neighboring the EU were in Serbia.

The EU has revoked Commission Directive 110 of 2014 to order prospective blood donors to defer for 28 days to leave room for the potential risk of developing locally acquired West Nile virus infections.

Only individuals who can present recent negative results of their nucleic acid test (NAT) will be allowed to donate blood within the EU in the next 28 days.