Weekly releases (1997–2007) - Volume 7, Issue 17, 24 April 2003

A human fatality has been reported from the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A H7N7, which has been ongoing in the Netherlands since the end of February and which has caused a standstill to that country’s poultry industry.

Beginning in January 2004, screening tests for HIV are to be offered to all pregnant women in the Netherlands on an 'opt-out' basis to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child.

On 17 March 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a multicentre network of leading laboratories from 10 countries, to research the aetiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to develop a robust and reliable diagnostic test. The methods utilised and the results of the network member laboratories have been shared on a secure web site and via frequent teleconferences, enabling investigative approaches for detecting the causative agent of SARS to be continually refined and to develop a diagnostic assay. Initial microbiological investigations aimed to detect a range of viral and bacterial agents known to cause atypical pneumonia. The methodologies employed included electron microscopy (EM), immunofluorescent antibody tests (IFA), viral and bacterial cultures, and a range of molecular based assays.

The European bat lyssaviruses (EBLVs) are not easily transmitted from bats to other species, but such incidents have occurred rarely. In humans EBLV infection can be fatal, and to date, worldwide, four such cases have been reported (1). The most recent was in November 2002, when a 56 year old bat worker in Scotland died of an EBLV2 infection, about six months after he had been bitten by a Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) (2). Other cases were a 15 year old girl in Ukraine in 1977, who died five weeks after she had been bitten on her finger by a bat. In Russia in 1985 an 11 year old girl died four weeks after a bat bite on her lower lip. Both girls were infected with EBLV1. In the same year as the Russian case, a 30 year old bat researcher in Finland died of rabies caused by EBLV2 (3). In both this case and the Scottish case, it has not been definitely determined when the fatal bites took place.

Based on the latest figures, the estimated total number of new HIV infections in Germany has remained largely constant in recent years (1). The estimated figure for newly diagnosed infections in 2002 is 2000, about a quarter of which were in women.

The second DIPNET network steering committee meeting was held at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Rome on 13-14 February 2003.