Communicable disease threats report, 12-18 October 2014, week 42
This issue covers the period from 12 to 18 October 2014 and includes updates on:
Seasonal influenza – Europe
In the second week of the season, influenza activity across Europe remained typically low for the time of year, with indications of sporadic influenza activity in 15 countries in the western, central and northern parts of Europe. A weekly joint update from ECDC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Flu News Europe , was launched on 10 October 2014.
West Nile fever – Europe
During the past week, Italy reported four new confirmed cases: three from previously affected provinces (Cremona, Pavia and Piacenza), and one case from the newly affected province of Brescia. No new cases were reported from EU neighbouring countries. During the transmission season, ECDC produces weekly West Nile fever (WNF) risk maps to inform blood safety authorities regarding WNF affected areas.
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) – West Africa
Since the last CDTR on 10 October 2014, the affected countries in West Africa have reported 962 additional cases and 627 additional fatalities. On 14 October 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that a second healthcare worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States has tested positive for EVD. The latest weekly epidemiological updates are available in the ECDC Ebola health topic page.
Chikungunya – worldwide
An outbreak of chikungunya virus infection which has been on-going in the Caribbean since December 2013 and spread to North, Central and South America, has now reached French Polynesia: on 10 October 2014, 15 locally acquired cases of chikungunya virus infection were reported in Tahiti. This is the first time autochthonous cases of chikungunya virus have been detected in French Polynesia. Several EU countries are also reporting imported cases from the affected areas in the Caribbean.