title: Lack of evidence for zoonotic transmission of Schmallenberg virus.
abstract: The emergence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a novel orthobunyavirus, in ruminants in Europe triggered a joint veterinary and public health response to address the possible consequences to human health. Use of a risk profiling algorithm enabled the conclusion that the risk for zoonotic transmission of SBV could not be excluded completely. Self-reported health problems were monitored, and a serologic study was initiated among persons living and/or working on SBV-affected farms. In the study set-up, we addressed the vector and direct transmission routes for putative zoonotic transfer. In total, 69 sheep farms, 4 goat farms, and 50 cattle farms were included. No evidence for SBV-neutralizing antibodies was found in serum of 301 participants. The lack of evidence for zoonotic transmission from either syndromic illness monitoring or serologic testing of presumably highly exposed persons suggests that the public health risk for SBV, given the current situation, is absent or extremely low.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands. chantal.reusken@rivm.nl
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reusken
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van den Wijngaard
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Beek
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beer
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouwstra
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Godeke
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Isken
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van den Kerkhof
authors.forename: Wilfrid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Pelt
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Poel
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reimerink
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schielen
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Chanasit
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vellema
authors.forename: Ankje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wouters
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koopmans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012306:Risk; D012418:Ruminants; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*