Usutu virus infections among blood donors, Austria, july and august 2017 – Raising awareness for diagnostic challenges

Tamás Bakonyi, Christof Jungbauer, Stephan W. Aberle, Jolanta Kolodziejek, Katharina Dimmel, Karin Stiasny, Franz Allerberger, Norbert Nowotny*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Between July and August 2017, seven of 12,047 blood donations from eastern Austria, reacted positive to West Nile virus (WNV) in the cobas test (Roche). Follow-up investigations revealed Usutu virus (USUV) nucleic acid in six of these. Retrospective analyses of four blood donors diagnosed as WNV-infected in 2016 showed one USUV positive. Blood transfusion services and public health authorities in USUV-endemic areas should be aware of a possible increase of human USUV infections.

Original languageEnglish
Article number17-00644
JournalEurosurveillance
Volume22
Issue number41
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 12 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Virology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Usutu virus infections among blood donors, Austria, july and august 2017 – Raising awareness for diagnostic challenges'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this