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. 2014:2014:907852.
doi: 10.1155/2014/907852. Epub 2014 Sep 11.

Epidemiology of West Nile disease in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin from 2009 to 2013

Daria Di Sabatino  1 , Rossana Bruno  1 , Francesca Sauro  1 , Maria Luisa Danzetta  1 , Francesca Cito  1 , Simona Iannetti  1 , Valeria Narcisi  1 , Fabrizio De Massis  1 , Paolo Calistri  1
Affiliations

Epidemiology of West Nile disease in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin from 2009 to 2013

Daria Di Sabatino et al. Biomed Res Int. 2014.

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) transmission has been confirmed in the last four years in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin. An increasing concern towards West Nile disease (WND) has been observed due to the high number of human and animal cases reported in these areas confirming the importance of this zoonosis. A new epidemiological scenario is currently emerging: although new introductions of the virus from abroad are always possible, confirming the epidemiological role played by migratory birds, the infection endemisation in some European territories today is a reality supported by the constant reoccurrence of the same strains across years in the same geographical areas. Despite the WND reoccurrence in the Old World, the overwintering mechanisms are not well known, and the role of local resident birds or mosquitoes in this context is poorly understood. A recent new epidemiological scenario is the spread of lineage 2 strain across European and Mediterranean countries in regions where lineage 1 strain is still circulating creating favourable conditions for genetic reassortments and emergence of new strains. This paper summarizes the main epidemiological findings on WNV occurrence in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin from 2009 to 2013, considering potential future spread patterns.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Lineage 1 strain occurrence in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin from 2009 to 2013.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Lineage 2 strain occurrence in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin from 2009 to 2013.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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