Highest rates of Tick-borne encephalitis in Central Europe are reported in Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Rates in Austria are similar to most other countries in the area. Most cases are encountered in Vienna, Upper and Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria, Carinthia and northern Salzburg province - with highest rates in Karnten and Steiermark.
- During 2005 to 2006, TBE emerged in the upstream valleys of Inn and Isel, and in Ziller valley and Voralberg (Feldkirch region).
- During the pre-vaccination era, Austria had the highest incidence of TBE in Europe, with up to 700 hospitalized cases annually. TBE accounted for over 50% of all viral meningoencephalitis cases in the eastern and southern regions of the country.
- 139 cases were reported among children in Styria during 1980 to 2003 7 ; 116 during 1981 to 2005
- No fatal cases were reported in 1989; 0 in 1991; 1 in 1992; 2 in 1993
- 66 cases were reported in Tyrol during 2000 to 2006.

(more…)

GIDEON was quoted in a recent ProMED post related to a case of unknown hemorrhagic disease in China:

Background information on HGA in China is available on the Global Infectious Disease and Epidemiology Network (GIDEON) website.

Seropositive ruminants have been documented in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region area. (see ref 1 below)
- Seropositive rodents have been documented in Jilin Province: Japanese field mouse (_Apodemus peninsulae_), Black-striped field mouse (_A. agrarius_) and Siberian chipmunk (_Tamias sibiricu_). (see
ref 2 below)
(more…)

A variety of spotted fever group Rickettsiae are reported in Spain.

The incidence of Mediterranean spotted fever cases has decreased in recent years, from 870 cases in 1989, to 234 in 2003. 77.76% of cases are reported from Andalucia, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla y Leon and Cataluna, with most occurring during July through October. 38 fatal cases were reported during 1980 to 1994.

Seroprevalence surveys:
8% of healthy persons and 26.1% of dogs in Catalonia - highest rates in seimrural areas (1997)
8.7% of persons in southern Spain (2002)
3.4% of persons in southern Spain (Bar29 infection, 2006 publication)
3.7% of persons in Catalonia (Rickettsia slovaka, 2008 publication)
56.4% of dogs in northeastern Spain (2006 publication)
24.6% of dogs in Ourense and Pontevedra (northwestern Spain, 2008 publication)
44% of cats in northeastern Spain (2006 publication)

(more…)