Eurosurveillance
Volume 20, Issue 42, 2015

Louse-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis) diagnosed in 15 refugees from northeast Africa: Epidemiology and preventive control measures, Bavaria, Germany, July to October 2015 (Article) (Open Access)

Hoch M. , Wieser A. , Löscher T. , Margos G. , Pürner F. , Zühl J. , Seilmaier M. , Balzer L. , Guggemos W. , Rack-Hoch A. , von Both U. , Hauptvogel K. , Schönberger K. , Hautmann W. , Sing A. , Fingerle V.*
  • a Task-Force Infectiology and International Health Regulations, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
  • b Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany, Max von Pettenkofer Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
  • c Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
  • d German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
  • e Task-Force Infectiology and International Health Regulations, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
  • f City of Munich, Public Health Authority, Munich, Germany
  • g Department for Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, Palliative Medicine, Infectiology and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum München-Schwabing, Munich, Germany
  • h Department for Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, Palliative Medicine, Infectiology and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum München-Schwabing, Munich, Germany
  • i Department for Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, Palliative Medicine, Infectiology and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum München-Schwabing, Munich, Germany
  • j Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Hauner Children’s Hospital, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
  • k Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Hauner Children’s Hospital, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
  • l RoMed Klinikum Rosenheim, Rosenheim, Germany
  • m Task-Force Infectiology and International Health Regulations, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
  • n Task-Force Infectiology and International Health Regulations, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
  • o German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
  • p German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany

Abstract

We report 15 imported louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) cases in refugees in Bavaria, Germany. One patient died. Epidemiological findings confirmed that all were young males from the Horn of Africa (12 from Somalia), who had similar migration routes converging in Sudan continuing through Libya and Italy. The majority likely acquired their infection during migration. Healthcare workers should be aware of LBRF in refugees passing through north Africa to ensure correct treatment and preventive measures. © 2015, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Lice Infestations genetics Germany hospitalization refugee Eritrea human bacterial DNA Refugees Borrelia recurrentis Relapsing Fever travel Borrelia multiple organ failure Herxheimer reaction pruritus ethnology doxycycline Young Adult DNA, Bacterial Humans Adolescent Treatment Outcome male communicable disease control clinical article Borrelia infection isolation and purification Article blood infection control Ethiopia adult gene sequence Somalia molecular diagnosis
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84965090922&doi=10.2807%2f1560-7917.ES.2015.20.42.30046&partnerID=40&md5=e4b9bab3084f7f7989fb3aece9112ca2
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2015.20.42.30046
ISSN: 1025496X
Cited by: 37
Original Language: English