Unprecedented increase of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, Spain, summer 2020

• Published in: Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles Vol. 26; no. 19; p. 1
• Main Authors: García San Miguel Rodríguez-Alarcón, Lucía, Fernández-Martínez, Beatriz, Sierra Moros, María José, Vázquez, Ana, Julián Pachés, Paula, García Villacieros, Elena, Gómez Martín, María Belén, Figuerola Borras, Jordi, Lorusso, Nicola, Ramos Aceitero, Julian Mauro, Moro, Elena, de Celis, Aránzazu, Oyonarte, Salvador, Mahillo, Beatriz, Romero González, Luis José, Sánchez-Seco, María Paz, Suárez Rodríguez, Berta, Ameyugo Catalán, Ulises, Ruiz Contreras, Santiago, Pérez-Olmeda, Mayte, Simón Soria, Fernando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Centre Europeen pour la Surveillance Epidemiologique du SIDA (European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS) 13.05.2021; European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
• Subjects: Epidemiology; Health surveillance; Mosquitoes; Outbreaks; Public health; Studies; West Nile virus; Spain; epidemiology; viral infections; vector-borne infections; West Nile virus; West Nile fever; surveillance; WNV; Spain
• DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.19.2002010
• ISSN: 1560-7917; 1025-496X

Cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) in Spain increased in summer 2020. Here we report on this increase and the local, regional and national public health measures taken in response. We analysed data from regional surveillance networks and the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network, both for human and animal West Nile virus (WNV) infection. During the 2020 season, a total of 77 human cases of WNV infection (median age 65 years; 60% males) were detected in the south-west of Spain; 72 (94%) of these cases developed WNND, presenting as meningoencephalitis, seven of which were fatal. In the previous two decades, only six human cases of WNND were detected in Spain. Reduced activities for vector control this season, together with other factors, might have contributed to the massive increase. Public health measures including vector control, campaigns to raise awareness among physicians and the general population, and interventions to ensure the safety of donations of blood products, organs, cells and tissues were effective to reduce transmission. Going forward, maintenance of vector control activities and an update of the vector-borne diseases response plan in Spain is needed.