Follow up information for human application establishments on West Nile Virus

Information regarding HTA Regulatory Alert 003/2008 on West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-transmitted virus.  Humans are mainly infected through mosquito bites, and there have been documented cases of transmission of infection through organ transplantation and blood transfusion.

West Nile virus has been found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, west and central Asia, and more recently, North America.  In Europe, recent outbreaks have occurred in Romania (1996 and 2008), Russia (1999), Israel (2000), Hungary and Italy (both 2008).  Since its detection in the USA in 1999, WNV case numbers increased, reaching a peak in 2003. WNV has now spread across the whole of the USA and into parts of Canada. 

The HTA previously issued a regulatory alert (003/2008) to inform human application establishments of an outbreak of West Nile Virus in Italy.  With the decrease of mosquito activity in the winter months, the risk of human exposure to mosquito bites is very low and precautionary measures have been reduced by the Italian authorities. 

However, human application establishments in the UK are advised that they continue to exercise vigilance for donors who have returned from travelling in a West Nile virus risk area in the appropriate season (typically beginning of May to end of November, although isolated cases may occur at any time of the year), and also when importing tissue and/or cells from such areas.

Further information on West Nile Virus can be found on the HPA website.