Epidemiological update: Chikungunya case in Spain without travel history to endemic areas (false alert)
On 11 September, authorities in Valencia – Spain acknowledged that the case of Chikungunya reported 3 August 2015 is a false positive. Laboratory investigation conducted by the National Reference laboratory in Madrid did not confirm the initial results.
On 11 September, the Spanish health authorities in Valencia acknowledged that the case of chikungunya reported on 3 August 2015 was a false positive. Laboratory investigation conducted by the National Reference laboratory in Madrid did not confirm the initial results.
All the 21 chikungunya cases reported in Valencia province in 2015 were imported from an endemic area. As of 11 September 2015, there is no evidence of authoctonous chikungunya transmission in Valencia.
The Spanish chikungunya surveillance system was enhanced in 2014, after the declaration of the outbreak in the Caribbean. The Spanish entomological surveillance system, established in 2007, identified the mosquito species Aedes albopictus for the first time in the city of Gandia in 2013.
The species Aedes albopictus is present in the Valencia province and imported chikungunya cases have been reported. Therefore, despite the fact that autochthonous transmission has not been confirmed the conclusions of ECDC’s Rapid Risk Assessment published on 24 August 2015 remain valid.
