Previous studies have suggested that alpha-glucosidase inhibitors such as castanospermine and deoxynojirimycin inhibit dengue virus type 1 infection by disrupting the folding of the structural proteins prM and E, a step crucial to viral secretion. We extend these studies by evaluating the inhibitory activity of castanospermine against a panel of clinically important flaviviruses including all f...

These are the first reported human cases of West Nile fever in Central Europe (5); an extensive outbreak occurred in Romania in 1996, with approximately 500 patients hospitalized and a 4% to 8% fatality rate (6,7). West Nile virus should be viewed as a potential agent of local sporadic cases, clusters, or outbreaks, even in temperate Europe. Environmental factors (including human activities) th...

In 2005, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) disease occurred in Sacramento County, California; 163 human cases were reported. In response to WNV surveillance indicating increased WNV activity, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District conducted an emergency aerial spray. We determined the economic impact of the outbreak, including the vector control event and the medical cost t...

The influence of one virus on the growth of another in tissue culture was investigated. The 17DD High strain of yellow fever virus was found capable of completely suppressing the growth of both the Asibi strain of the same virus and of the heterologous West Nile virus, even when these were added to the cultures in large amounts. The 17DD High strain of yellow fever virus and the West Nile virus...

During late summer and autumn 2000, a West Nile fever outbreak in southern France resulted in 76 equine clinical cases; 21 horses died. We report the results of a large serosurvey of all equines within a 10-km radius of laboratory-confirmed cases. Blood samples were obtained from 5,107 equines, distributed in groups of 1 to 91 animals. West Nile virus immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies were found...

Although West Nile fever is mild in the vast majority of infected persons, there is growing evidence that the disease may be more severe in the immunocompromised population. We describe 3 recipients of kidney or pancreas transplants who developed West Nile fever, 2 of whom had meningoencephalitis. As is the norm when treating serious infections in transplant recipients, a reduction of immunosup...

With the rapid global spread of West Nile virus (WNV) and the endemic state it has acquired in new geographical areas, we hereby bring a thorough serological investigation of WNV in horses in a longstanding endemic region, such as Israel. This study evaluates the environmental and demographic risk factors for WNV infection in horses and suggests possible factors associated with the transition f...

The outbreak of Ebola virus disease has caused unprecedented demands on health systems in west Africa, which were already fragile and are now at breaking point. The outbreak will be brought under control only with a massive input of money, infrastructure, and people.Crucial among the personnel needed are healthcare workers. For example,Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the most heavily involved c...

A serosurvey for mosquito-borne viruses was carried out in 93 wild boars (Sus scrofa), using a plaque-reduction neutralization microtest with Vero cells. The boars were sampled on 24 hunting grounds of the Breclav district (South Moravia) from 2000 to 2002. Specific antibodies to Flavivirus West Nile (WNV) were detected in six (6.5%) animals, and only in Lanzhot and Kostice, i.e., in the area o...

The emerging disease West Nile fever is caused by West Nile virus (WNV), one of the most widespread arboviruses. This study represents the first test of the vectorial competence of European Culex pipiens Linnaeus 1758 and Stegomyia albopicta (= Aedes albopictus) (both: Diptera: Culicidae) populations for lineage 1 and 2 WNV isolated in Europe. Culex pipiens and S. albopicta populations were sus...