Belgium's first human infections with West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne virus carried by wild birds, came in a season that ECDC says "affected a broader geographical area than any previous season"1. By 14 October Europe had 1,926 locally acquired cases in 19 countries and 222 affected areas, up from 16 countries at the end of September. Greece and France recorded their highest human counts ever, and France a record number of outbreaks in horses.
Belgian doctors now have reason to test a feverish patient who has not travelled for a virus they had never seen caught at home. ECDC sees no sign of more severe illness, and cases have fallen since the August and September peak.
Germany has its first reported locally acquired, symptomatic infection with Sindbis virus, a mosquito-borne virus found in northern Europe that causes fever, rash and joint pain, ECDC reported2. The patient, in south-west Germany, had not travelled and fell ill on 12 July; rising antibodies in blood tests confirmed it. No vaccine exists. ECDC calls the case not unexpected, because the virus had already turned up in German mosquitoes and birds.
In Finland the illness is known as Pogosta disease, and its joint pain can last for months3. It is Germany's second home-grown mosquito-borne infection of the summer, after the eight malaria cases around Frankfurt Airport in people who had not travelled.
