title: Analysis of surveillance systems in place in European Mediterranean countries for West Nile virus (WNV) and Rift Valley fever (RVF).
abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) represent an important group of viral agents responsible for vector-borne zoonotic diseases constituting an emerging sanitary threat for the Mediterranean Basin and the neighbouring countries. WNV infection is present in several Mediterranean countries, whereas RVF has never been introduced into Europe, but it is considered a major threat for North African countries. Being vector-borne diseases, they cannot be prevented only through an animal trade control policy. Several approaches are used for the surveillance of WNV and RVFV. With the aim of assessing the surveillance systems in place in Mediterranean countries, two disease-specific questionnaires (WNV, RVFV) have been prepared and submitted to Public Health and Veterinary Authorities of six EU countries. This study presents the information gathered through the questionnaires and describes some critical points in the prevention and surveillance of these diseases as emerged by the answers received.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cito
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Narcisi
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Danzetta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iannetti
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Sabatino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carvelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atzeni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sauro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calistri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Mediterranean Basin; Rift Valley Fever; West Nile virus; arbo-zoonet; surveillance