title: Chikungunya virus and West Nile virus infections imported into Belgium, 2007-2012.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences,Institute of Tropical Medicine,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: VAN DEN Bossche
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences,Institute of Tropical Medicine,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cnops
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences,Institute of Tropical Medicine,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meersman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (Highly Pathogenic Viruses),Robert Koch Institute,Berlin,Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences,Institute of Tropical Medicine,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: VAN Gompel
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences,Institute of Tropical Medicine,Antwerp,Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: VAN Esbroeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D065632:Chikungunya Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014195:Travel; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arboviruses; epidemiology