What’s the Usutu virus inflicting the primary case of autochthonous arbovirosis?

A primary case of arbovirosis (viral illness typically transmitted by mosquitoes) indigenous to New Aquitaine had been confirmed by the regional well being company on October 18. The sick particular person, initially from the Landes, had actually not left the metropolis within the days previous the primary signs, which indicated that she had contracted the illness on the spot.

The dengue virus, transmitted by the tiger mosquito, in addition to the West-Nile, transmitted by the Culex mosquito, had been strongly suspected at first. However a second pattern from the contaminated particular person confirmed that it was actually an an infection with the Usutu virus, signifies the ARS. That is solely the second case of human an infection detected in France.

First instances detected in Europe in 2009

The Usutu virus “is an rising virus of African origin, of the genus Flavivirus”, explains the ARS. It was recognized for the primary time in South Africa, in Swaziland in 1959, on the sting of the Usutu river, and reported by birds in Tuscany in Italy in 1996, then in Hungary, in Switzerland, in Spain and in Germany.

In Europe, the primary human instances of Usutu virus (USUV) have been detected in northern Italy in 2009 in immunocompromised sufferers. In France, the virus has been circulating since 2015, however just one case of human an infection was detected in 2016 in Hérault.

It primarily impacts blackbirds, sparrows, chickadees and robins

The virus primarily circulates amongst birds, and its monitoring in birds is carried out by the French Workplace for Biodiversity (ONF). “It primarily impacts blackbirds, sparrows, tits and robins, but additionally some birds of prey (owl, owl) or migratory birds”, specifies the ARS. It’s then transmitted by the chunk of mosquitoes, primarily mosquitoes of the genus Culex, additionally known as “widespread mosquito”, through a basic sample: the mosquito bites a hen carrying the virus, then a human being. “The Usutu virus is just not transmitted from man to man, nor from man to mosquito” provides the ARS.

The an infection could be very typically asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic. “As was the case for the contaminated particular person, the signs may be these of the flu (asthenia, headache and rash)” explains the ARS.

A number of mosquito management operations

“The virus is just not very pathogenic and doesn’t current an actual hazard to people, continues the regional well being company, even when very not often and in immunocompromised folks, it could possibly trigger neurological problems (encephalitis or meningoencephalitis) . Excessive temperatures favor the abundance of mosquitoes and their “vector competence” for the Usutu virus.

As quickly as this case of arbovirosis was confirmed on October 18, a number of mosquito management operations have been carried out within the attainable locations of contamination frequented by the particular person, i.e. 4 sectors within the Landes and three in Gironde, specifically at Bouscat, at Pian- Médoc and within the Cauderan district in Bordeaux.