Outbreak of West Nile virus infection in humans, Romania, July to October 2010

A total of 57 cases of West Nile virus infection (54 with neuroinvasive infection and three with fever) were identified in Romania between July and October 2010.The median age of the cases was 53.4 years, with the highest incidence in the age group 60–69 years.The case fatality rate was 8.8%. Cases were distributed in 19 districts in the southern, western, central and eastern parts of the country. Molecular investigation revealed lineage 2 West Nile virus, related to the Volgograd 2007 strain.