Several equine viral agents with potential for human infection have been reported in Argentina.. The following background information is abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]

1. TOGAVIRIDAE
A. Eastern equine encephalitis:
Seropositivity toward eastern equine encephalitis virus was demonstrated in wild and domestic birds, wild mammals, and horses during 1977 to 1980.
– The principal mosquito vector is Aedes (Ochlerotatus) taeniorhynchus.
– Additional vectors include Culex nigripalpus, C. caudelli, C. spissipes and C. taeniopus.
– Eastern equine encephalitis has been reported from Buenos Aires.

Notable outbreaks:
1981 – An outbreak if eastern equine encephalitis was reported among equines in Santiago del Estero Province.

B. Western equine encephalitis:
An epizootic was reported during 1982 to 1983, with continued cases to 1986.
– Ochlerotatus (Aedes) albifasciatus is the presumed vector in Argentina.
- During the epidemic of 1982 to 1983, WEE virus was also demonstrated in Anopheles albitarsis, Mansonia species and Psorophora pallescens.

C. Venezuelan equine encephalitis
Complement-fixing antibodies toward Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus have been demonstrated among humans in Corrientes and Chaco (1983 publication)
– Related agents, Pixuna and Rio Negro viruses, have been identified among rodents in Tucuman Province.

Seroprevalence surveys:
51.6% of persons on General Belgrano Island, Formosa Province (NT, 1993 publication)
30% to 70% of persons on General Belgrano Island, Formosa Province (NT, 2003 publication)

2. RHABDOVIRIDAE
A. Calchaqui virus:
Seropositivity of humans and horses toward Calchaqui virus has been demonstrated in Santa Fe Province. Calchaqui virus has also been identified in a local mosquito.

B. Rabies (an extensive note regarding rabies in Argentina is available on request)

C. Vesicular stomatitis virus infection has been reported among animals in Argentina (2011 publication)

3. BUNYAVIRIDAE
A. Cache Valley, Kairi and Bunyamwera viruses:
Seroprevalence surveys:
5.7% of human sera in Cordoba are seropositive toward Cache Valley virus and 5.92% toward Kairi virus (2004 to 2005)
13.3% of horses in Santa Fe and Cordoba are seropositive toward Kairi virus , and 40% toward Cache Valley virus (1983 to 1984)
6.6% of free-ranging birds in Cordoba City were seropositive toward Bunyamwera virus in 2004, 13.8% in 2005

4. FLAVIRIDAE
A. West Nile fever virus:
West Nile fever virus was detected for the first time in Argentina in 2006 – two horses in San Antonio de Areco and one in San Isidro, Buenos Aires Province.
– Infection was documented in free-ranging birds during 2005 to 2006.
– The country’s first cases of human infection were reported in 2006 – one case in the city of Marcos Juarez in Cordoba Province and 3 additional cases in Chaco province.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Argentina, 2011. 417 pp, 96 graphs, 1516 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-argentina/
2. Berger SA. Equine encephalitis: Global Status, 2011. 38 pp, 17 graphs, 282 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/equine-encephalitis-global-status/

Regarding a recent case in the Netherlands posted in ProMED, several instances of imported West Nile fever have been reported in recent years.

Published reports are summarized below. (primary references are available on request)

2001 – A patient in the Netherlands developed West Nile fever following a trip to Israel.
2002 – Cases acquired in the United States were reported in France, Denmark (2 cases), Mexico; Czech Republic
2003 – Cases acquired in the United States were reported in Germany (2 cases); Canada; the Netherlands.
2003 (publication year) – Cases acquired in Israel and Canada were reported in Denmark.
2003 – A case acquired in Canada was reported in the Netherlands.
2003 – Cases acquired in the United States were reported in France (3 cases), the Netherlands (3 cases), and Germany (2 cases).
2004 – Cases acquired in the United States were reported in Germany 36; Netherlands; and Uruguay.
2004 – 2 cases of West Nile Virus infection were confirmed in Ireland. In both instances, the patients had recently visited Portugal.
2005 – Cases acquired in the United States were reported in Japan.
2005 – An Irish traveler acquired West Nile fever in the United States.
2005 – 4 cases reported in France had been acquired in Djibouti.
2006 – A Spanish missionary acquired West Nile fever in Nicaragua.
2007 – 2 British travelers developed West Nile fever while visiting Canada.

Reference
Berger SA. West Nile fever: Global Status, 2010. GIDEON e-book series

Posted in ProMED

Although recent reports of Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Croatia belie the fact that this disease has been steadily declining for five decades, the impact of TBE in Croatia is comparable to that of the main form of arthropod-borne encephalitis in the United States. See graph

TBE was first reported in Croatia in 1953, and mandatory reporting was instituted in 1987. There is only one natural focus in the northern part of the country, between the Sava and Drava Rivers. Alleged cases in Zadar and Pula, have not been certified. 75% of cases occur from May to July.

Approximately 20 cases per year are reported in Koprivnica-Krizevci County, characterized by a relatively mild illness without neurological residua.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Croatia, 2010. 356 pp. Gideon e-book series. http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-croatia/
2. Berger SA. Tick-borne Encephalitis: Global Status, 2010. 52 pp. Gideon e-book series. http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/tick-borne-encephalitis-global-status/

ProMED quoted GIDEON in this post:

there were at least 10 human cases in the Volga delta between
1963 & 1968, and that human seropositivity rates of up to 8 percent
were found in European Russia & Western Siberia (see ProMED post West
Nile virus - former Soviet Union: background 20060908.2548)

Quoted in ProMED:

Regarding recent cases in Afula, rates of West Nile fever in Israel have been strikingly similar to those of North America for the last 3 years. (See graph)