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Published Date: 2011-08-01 21:27:12
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus, equine - Greece: (AT) OIE
Archive Number: 20110801.2318

WEST NILE VIRUS, EQUINE - GREECE: (ATTIKI), OIE
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Date: Mon 1 Aug 2011
Source: OIE-WAHID Weekly Disease Information Vol. 24 - No. 31
[edited]
http://web.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=10855

Information received on 1 Aug 2011 from Mr Spiros Doudounakis,
Director, Animal Health Directorate, Directorate General of Veterinary
Services/Animal Health Directorare, Ministry of Rural Development and
Food, ATHENS, Greece

Summary
Report type: Follow-up report No. 5
Start date: 16 Aug 2010
Date of 1st confirmation of the event: 23 Aug 2010
Report date: 1 Aug 2011
Date submitted to OIE: 1 Aug 2011
Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease
Manifestation of disease: Clinical disease
Causal agent: West Nile virus
Nature of diagnosis: Clinical, Laboratory (basic), Laboratory
(advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country

New outbreaks
Outbreak 1 Attiki 1
Date of start of the outbreak: 26 Jul 2011
Outbreak status: Continuing
Epidemiological unit: Farm
Affected animals
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Destroyed / Slaughtered
Equidae / 35 / 2 / - / - / -

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1

Epidemiology: Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown
or inconclusive
Control measures
Measures applied: Screening; No vaccination; Treatment of affected
animals (Supportive treatment of animals with clinical signs
[NSAID]).

Measures to be applied: No other measures

Diagnostic test results
1. Laboratory name and type: Center of Athens Veterinary Institutes,
Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Virology Department
(National laboratory)
Tests and results:
Species / Test / Test date / Result
Equidae / real-time PCR / 1 Aug 2011 / Positive

2. Laboratory name and type: Centre of Athens Veterinary Institutes,
Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Virology Department
(National laboratory)
Tests and results:
Species / Test / Test date / Result
Equidae / competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) / 29 Jul 2011 / Positive
Equidae / IgM-capture ELISA / 29 Jul 2011 / Positive

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[From early July through October 2010, a total of 261 laboratory
confirmed cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans were
reported in central Macedonia as well as in the district of Larissa
(Northern Greece). Of these, 191 patients presented with
neuro-invasive symptoms, and 34 deaths have been reported. As reported
by Greek researchers in March 2011 (see 20110313.0809), a WNV lineage
2 strain was molecularly detected in a European magpie [bird], hunted
in central Macedonia in September 2010; the isolate was identified and
characterized, becoming the 1st molecular detection of WNV lineage 2
in wild birds in Greece.

Since 16 Aug 2010, 28 WNV outbreaks have been reported in equidae in
Greece. The epizootic started in Macedonia (northeast Greece), where
25 outbreaks were recorded during 2010, the last one starting 13 Oct
2010. During September 2011, 2 outbreaks affected horses in Thessalia,
southwest to Macedonia. No further cases were reported until July
2011. The 1st outbreak in horses during 2011 has been officially
notified in follow-up report No 5, included in this posting. It
started, reportedly, on 26 Jul 2011 in Attiki, southeast of
Thessalia.

For the locations of all 28 outbreaks, see interactive map at
http://web.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=9642.

Out of a total of 614 susceptible horses in all affected holdings, 32
were, reportedly, clinical cases, of which 2 died and one was
destroyed.

See also commentaries by Moderators TY and PC in archived post
20100828.3058.

It will be interesting to note whether human cases have already
appeared during the current season. - Mod.AS]

See Also