Usutu virus causes a blackbird mortality in Germany - endangering humans too?

Dangerous pathogen: Usutu virus in birds continues to spread

In 2010, the tropical Usutu virus, which is transmitted to birds by mosquitoes, was first detected in Germany. In the following years, the pathogen repeatedly caused regional bird deaths. Currently there is a violent wave of infection in North Rhine-Westphalia with the dangerous virus. Are people at risk??

Mass killing of blackbirds by Usutu virus

"After the first detection of the mosquito-borne Usutu virus in Germany in 2010, there was a large-scale outbreak of the virus in 2011/2012, which caused a mass extinction of blackbirds in southwestern Germany," explains the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) on its website. In the following years, the pathogen continued to circulate in the country and triggered a massive bird death last year. Currently, many birds in North Rhine-Westphalia are infected with the dangerous virus.

The tropical Usutu virus has caused regional bird death in Germany in recent years. Currently there is a violent wave of infection with the dangerous pathogen in NRW. (Image: Bernd Wolter / fotolia.com)

Much of the suspected cases from NRW

In North Rhine-Westphalia, blackbirds currently have a violent wave of infection with the tropical Usutu virus.

As the bird protection expert of the Nature Conservation Union (NABU), Marius Adrion, told the German Press Agency, in 2017 more than 500 suspected cases were reported from NRW.

Thus comes a large part of the nationwide this year 1,380 messages from NRW. At BNITIM, around 130 dead birds have been tested for the virus originally from South Africa; it could be detected in 45 birds.

Not only blackbirds affected

Sick animals can be recognized by their behavior. "Infected birds obviously seem ill, apathetic, do not flee anymore and usually die within a few days," writes the NABU in a statement. You can not help the animals according to the conservationists.

"Almost always it is blackbirds that are diagnosed with this disease, which is why the Usutu epidemic became known as 'blackbird dying'. However, other species of birds are also affected by this virus and can die from it, "say the experts.

There are hardly any new cases in autumn and winter. Because the pathogen is transmitted by mosquitoes, the disease in Germany is limited to the warm season.

In view of the mosquito plague, NABU had increasingly suspected infections in some regions this summer.

Citizens were called to report sick and dead animals online or to send in the carcasses.

Danger to humans?

According to the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, the transmission of Usutu viruses to humans takes place rather accidentally (also via mosquitoes) and can lead to Usutu fever.

Symptoms include fever, headache and rash; In rare cases it can come to a brain inflammation.

According to the BNITM, two infections have been discovered in this country, but these did not trigger any illness among the affected persons. "Since the people had not traveled, they had infected themselves in Germany," write the experts.

"An infection with the Usutu virus seems possible in Germany, but is not a cause for concern and will continue to be monitored by blood donation centers together with scientific institutions." (Ad)