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

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.

SUBMITTER: Bakonyi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5710119 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature