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Changing surveillance objectives during the different phases of an emerging vector-borne disease outbreak: The Schmallenberg virus example.

Authors :
Veldhuis A
Mars J
Stegeman A
van Schaik G
Source :
Preventive veterinary medicine [Prev Vet Med] 2019 May 01; Vol. 166, pp. 21-27. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Mar 09.
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

In the late summer of 2011, a sudden rise in incidence of fever, drop in milk production and diarrhoea was observed in dairy cows in the eastern region of the Netherlands and in north-western Germany. In the autumn of 2011, a novel orthobunyavirus was identified by metagenomic analyses in samples from acutely diseased cows on a farm near the German city of Schmallenberg, and was thereafter named Schmallenberg virus (SBV). Due to the novelty of the virus, there was an immediate need for knowledge regarding the epidemiological characteristics of SBV-infections to inform surveillance and control strategies. A rapid assessment of the spread and impact of an emerging disease supports decision-makers on allocation of resources. This paper reviews the disease mitigation activities during and after the SBV epidemic in the Netherlands, to illustrate the phases in surveillance when a new (vector-borne) pathogen emerges in a country or region. Immediate and short-term disease mitigation activities that were initiated after SBV was identified are discussed in detail, as well as ways to enhance future surveillance (e.g. by syndromic surveillance) and preparedness for similar disease outbreaks. By doing so, lessons learnt from the SBV epidemic will also improve surveillance for other emerging diseases in cattle.<br /> (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1873-1716
Volume :
166
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Preventive veterinary medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
30935502
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.03.008