title: Epidemiology of West Nile disease in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin from 2009 to 2013.
abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) transmission has been confirmed in the last four years in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin. An increasing concern towards West Nile disease (WND) has been observed due to the high number of human and animal cases reported in these areas confirming the importance of this zoonosis. A new epidemiological scenario is currently emerging: although new introductions of the virus from abroad are always possible, confirming the epidemiological role played by migratory birds, the infection endemisation in some European territories today is a reality supported by the constant reoccurrence of the same strains across years in the same geographical areas. Despite the WND reoccurrence in the Old World, the overwintering mechanisms are not well known, and the role of local resident birds or mosquitoes in this context is poorly understood. A recent new epidemiological scenario is the spread of lineage 2 strain across European and Mediterranean countries in regions where lineage 1 strain is still circulating creating favourable conditions for genetic reassortments and emergence of new strains. This paper summarizes the main epidemiological findings on WNV occurrence in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin from 2009 to 2013, considering potential future spread patterns.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Sabatino
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4211-1740
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sauro
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Danzetta
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cito
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iannetti
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Narcisi
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Massis
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calistri
mesh_terms: D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*