Hantavirus infections are reported from many countries in Europe and with highly variable annual case numbers. In 2010, more than 2,000 human cases were reported in Germany, and numbers above the baseline have also been registered in other European countries. Depending on the virus type human infections are characterised by mild to severe forms of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The member laboratories of the European Network for diagnostics of Imported Viral Diseases present here an overview of the progression of human cases in the period from 2005 to 2010. Further we provide an update on the available diagnostic methods and endemic regions in their countries, with an emphasis on occurring virus types and reservoirs.

Hantavirus infection was diagnosed serologically by mu-capture IgM and IgG ELISAs in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) patients admitted to Tuzla Hospital, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The results indicated that more than one hantavirus caused the outbreak. To address the question of which hantavirus serotypes were involved, sequentially drawn sera were analyzed by focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) for antibodies against Puumala, Hantaan, Dobrava, and Seoul hantaviruses. The data revealed that acute- or early convalescent-phase sera, even when drawn as late as 3 weeks after the onset of disease, could not be used for typing of the causative hantavirus; a significant number of these samples showed similar reactivity of neutralizing antibodies to several different hantavirus serotypes. Moreover, although several acute-phase sera showed the highest FRNT titer to Hantaan virus, convalescent sera from these patients in all cases showed high specificity for Puumala or Dobrava viruses. This phenomenon, interpreted as a cross-neutralizing primary antibody response, makes several earlier reports concerning causative agents of HFRS questionable. Serological examination of small rodents trapped in the endemic area identified Puumala- and Dobrava-like virus infections. RT-PCR and sequencing of rodent lung samples identified Dobrava virus in one yellow-necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). Cross-FRNT data, using polyclonal rabbit antibodies, clearly confirmed Dobrava virus as a unique hantavirus serotype. In conclusion, the results revealed that both Puumala- and Dobrava-like viruses caused HFRS in Bosnia-Herzegovina, whereas no signs of Hantaan or Seoul virus involvement were found.

Despite notable scientific and medical advances, broader political, socioeconomic and behavioural factors continue to undercut the response to the COVID-19 pandemic1,2. Here we convened, as part of this Delphi study, a diverse, multidisciplinary panel of 386 academic, health, non-governmental organization, government and other experts in COVID-19 response from 112 countries and territories to recommend specific actions to end this persistent global threat to public health. The panel developed a set of 41 consensus statements and 57 recommendations to governments, health systems, industry and other key stakeholders across six domains: communication; health systems; vaccination; prevention; treatment and care; and inequities. In the wake of nearly three years of fragmented global and national responses, it is instructive to note that three of the highest-ranked recommendations call for the adoption of whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches1, while maintaining proven prevention measures using a vaccines-plus approach2 that employs a range of public health and financial support measures to complement vaccination. Other recommendations with at least 99% combined agreement advise governments and other stakeholders to improve communication, rebuild public trust and engage communities3 in the management of pandemic responses. The findings of the study, which have been further endorsed by 184 organizations globally, include points of unanimous agreement, as well as six recommendations with >5% disagreement, that provide health and social policy actions to address inadequacies in the pandemic response and help to bring this public health threat to an end.

Importation of viruses from other continents caused prolonged circulation and large outbreaks in the WHO European Region.

Pregnancy represents a risk factor in the occurrence of vaginal candidosis. The objectives of our study were: to make determination of the microscopic findings of vaginal swab, frequency of Candida species in the culture of pregnant women and patients who are not pregnant, determine the Candida species in all cultures, and to determine the frequency and differences in the frequency of C. albicans and other non-albicans species. In one year study performed during 2006 year, we tested patients of Gynaecology and Obstetrics clinic of the Clinical Centre in Sarajevo and Gynaecology department of the General hospital in Sarajevo. 447 woman included in the study were separated in two groups: 203 pregnant (in the last trimester of pregnancy), and 244 non-pregnant woman in period of fertility. Each vaginal swab was examined microscopically. The yeast, number of colonies, and the species of Candida were determined on Sabouraud dextrose agar with presence of antibiotics. For determination of Candida species, we used germ tube test for detection of C. albicans, and cultivation on the selective medium and assimilation tests for detection of non-albicans species. The results indicated positive microscopic findings in the test group (40,9%), as well as greater number of positive cultures (46,8%). The most commonly detected species for both groups was C. albicans ( test group 40.9% and control group 23,0%). The most commonly detected non-albicans species for the test group were C. glabrata (4,2 %) and C. krusei (3,2%), and for the control group were C. glabrata (3,2%) and C. parapsilosis (3,2%). The microscopic findings correlated with the number of colonies in positive cultures. In the test group, we found an increased number of yeasts (64,3%), and the pseudopyphae and blastopores by microscopic examination as an indication of infection. In the control group, we found a small number of yeasts (64,6%) , in the form of blastopores, as an indication of the candida colonisation. Our results indicate that gravidity, as the risc factor for incidence of infection, has the significant role in the incidence of vaginal candidosis.