Chikungunya virus and West Nile virus infections imported into Belgium, 2007-2012

D Van den Bossche, L Cnops, K Meersman, C Domingo, A Van Gompel, Marjan Van Esbroeck

Research output: Contribution to journalA1: Web of Science-articlepeer-review

Abstract

SUMMARY Arboviral infections are emerging among tourists travelling to (sub)tropical regions. This study aims to describe the importation of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and West Nile virus (WNV) into Belgium over a 6-year period from 2007 to 2012. Clinical samples were obtained from travellers presenting at the outpatient clinic of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp, Belgium or submitted to the Central Laboratory for Clinical Biology of the ITM. Testing was performed by serology and/or by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. A total of 1288 returning travellers were investigated for CHIKV infection resulting in 34 confirmed and two probable diagnoses (2·80%). Out of 899 patients, four confirmed and one probable imported WNV infections were diagnosed (0·55%). No locally acquired cases have been registered in Belgium until now and the geographical origin of the imported infections reflects the global locations where the viruses are circulating.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEpidemiology and Infection
Volume143
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)2227-2236
Number of pages10
ISSN0950-2688
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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