Usutu virus infections among blood donors, Austria, July and August 2017 - Raising awareness for diagnostic challenges.

Usutu virus infections among blood donors, Austria, July and August 2017 - Raising awareness for diagnostic challenges.
Euro Surveill. 2017 Oct;22(41):
Authors: Bakonyi T, Jungbauer C, Aberle SW, Kolodziejek J, Dimmel K, Stiasny K, Allerberger F, Nowotny N
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.
PMID: 29043962 [PubMed - in process]

Source: Euro Surveill - October 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Bakonyi T, Jungbauer C, Aberle SW, Kolodziejek J, Dimmel K, Stiasny K, Allerberger F, Nowotny N Tags: Euro Surveill Source Type: research