West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections and Challenges to Blood Safety in the European Union

West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) circulate in several European Union (EU) countries. The risk of transfusion-transmitted West Nile virus (TT-WNV) has been recognized, and preventive blood safety measures have been implemented. We summarized the applied interventions in the EU countries a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2019-06, Vol.25 (6), p.1050-1057
Main Authors: Domanović, Dragoslav, Gossner, Celine M, Lieshout-Krikke, Ryanne, Mayr, Wolfgang, Baroti-Toth, Klara, Dobrota, Alina Mirella, Escoval, Maria Antonia, Henseler, Olaf, Jungbauer, Christof, Liumbruno, Giancarlo, Oyonarte, Salvador, Politis, Constantina, Sandid, Imad, Vidović, Miljana Stojić, Young, Johanna J, Ushiro-Lumb, Inês, Nowotny, Norbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood banks
Blood donation
Blood Donors
Blood Safety
Blood Transfusion
Communicable Diseases, Emerging - epidemiology
Europe - epidemiology
European Union
Flavivirus
Flavivirus Infections - epidemiology
Flavivirus Infections - prevention & control
Flavivirus Infections - transmission
Flavivirus Infections - virology
Health aspects
Humans
Incidence
Infection
measures
Nucleic acids
Public Health Surveillance
Safety and security measures
surveillance systems
Usutu virus
West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections and Challenges to Blood Safety in the European Union
West Nile fever
West Nile Fever - epidemiology
West Nile Fever - prevention & control
West Nile Fever - transmission
West Nile Fever - virology
West Nile virus
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Summary:West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) circulate in several European Union (EU) countries. The risk of transfusion-transmitted West Nile virus (TT-WNV) has been recognized, and preventive blood safety measures have been implemented. We summarized the applied interventions in the EU countries and assessed the safety of the blood supply by compiling data on WNV positivity among blood donors and on reported TT-WNV cases. The paucity of reported TT-WNV infections and the screening results suggest that blood safety interventions are effective. However, limited circulation of WNV in the EU and presumed underrecognition or underreporting of TT-WNV cases contribute to the present situation. Because of cross-reactivity between genetically related flaviviruses in the automated nucleic acid test systems, USUV-positive blood donations are found during routine WNV screening. The clinical relevance of USUV infection in humans and the risk of USUV to blood safety are unknown.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid2506.181755