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Mid september 2016, the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre reported that Usutu virus causes mortality among blackbirds in the Netherlands. Reports about dead birds started to increase since August, mainly blackbirds and owls. The usutu virus (USUV) is an Arbovirus that has been observed in Europe during the past decennia. Mosquitoes vector the virus between different birds and only rarely infect humans; only five humans have been described with an usutu virus infection, three of them were immunocompromised. In 2010 ECDC reports human case with usutu virus infection. In 2014, ECDC releases technical guidelines for surveillance of native mosquitoes in Europe, including information about the three mosquito species that can act as vectors of usutu virus in Europe.
Though the virus is known for decades, there are still many unknowns. In 2011 Eurosurveillance published an article on USUV and the potential risk for human disease. Still the natural history of human infection is largely unknown. In a serological study among blood donors, around 1% had antibodies against USUV. What is the risk of infection after an infected mosquito bite? Can asymptomatic people transmit the virus?.
These are not merely questions of academic interest. Effective prevention and control measures depend on detailed understanding of the chain of transmission from the natural reservoir of a pathogen, specific sources, and transmission routes in the external environment to strengthening immune defenses and reducing complications of the infection.
Intervention Epidemiology and Public Health Microbiology are disciplines with professionals trained to find answers to these questions and close the gap. Interested in Continuing Professional Education in those areas? Request information about our short courses; they can be organised for entire teams in your organisation.