title: Louse-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis) diagnosed in 15 refugees from northeast Africa: epidemiology and preventive control measures, Bavaria, Germany, July to October 2015.
abstract: We report 15 imported louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) cases in refugees in Bavaria, Germany. One patient died. Epidemiological findings confirmed that all were young males from the Horn of Africa (12 from Somalia), who had similar migration routes converging in Sudan continuing through Libya and Italy. The majority likely acquired their infection during migration. Healthcare workers should be aware of LBRF in refugees passing through north Africa to ensure correct treatment and preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Task-Force Infectiology and International Health Regulations, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoch
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wieser
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Löscher
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Margos
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pürner
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zühl
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seilmaier
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guggemos
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rack-Hoch
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: von Both
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hauptvogel
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schönberger
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hautmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sing
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fingerle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001898:Borrelia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019017:Eritrea / Q000208:ethnology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000208:ethnology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D012036:Refugees; D012061:Relapsing Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012998:Somalia / Q000208:ethnology; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004318:Doxycycline
keywords: Borrelia recurrentis; Louse-borne relapsing fever; infection control; northeastAfrica; refugees; spirochetes