Communicable disease threats report 16-22 June 2013, week 25
The ECDC communicable disease threats report is a weekly bulletin intended for epidemiologists and health professionals in the area of communicable disease prevention and control. Summarising information gathered by ECDC through its epidemic intelligence activities regarding communicable disease threats of concern to the European Union, it also provides updates on the global situation and changes in the epidemiology of communicable diseases with potential to affect Europe, including diseases that are the focus of eradication efforts.
Executive Summary
This week’s report includes an update on the ongoing outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It also provides information on a new novel cyclovirus.
MERS-CoV
Six new cases of the novel Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus were reported in Saudi Arabia between 13 and 20 June 2013. The reservoir for the novel coronavirus has not yet been established and it remains unclear how transmission has occurred from one sporadic case to another.
Novel cyclovirus
The identification of a new novel cyclovirus, named CyCV-VN, was described in an mBio article published on 18 June 2013. The disease was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of two Vietnamese patients with central nervous system infections of unknown etiology. Further tests revealed wider detection of the CyCV-VN, including in fecal samples from healthy children. Tests conducted on pigs and poultry confirmed the presence of the virus. This is the first time that the virus has been associated with human infection. Further study is needed in order to establish a causal relationship.
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