Infection in Baden-Württemberg: First detection of Sindbis fever in Germany
Evidence of mosquitoes carrying the virus has been present here for some time. Now, there is a confirmed case of Sindbis in a man in Baden-Württemberg. Doctors are being advised to watch out for corresponding symptoms.
For the first time, a case of a person contracting Sindbis virus infection in Germany has been identified. The patient is a 60-year-old man from Baden-Württemberg, according to the Robert Koch-Institute (RKI) in Berlin. The individual had previously developed antibodies indicating a past infection several years ago. These antibodies had been found in blood donors from the Weinheim area, where the virus had been detected in mosquitoes previously.
The latest development confirms that human cases of Sindbis virus infection can occur in areas where the virus is known to exist in mosquitoes and wild birds, the RKI stated. The symptoms of Sindbis virus infection in humans are similar to those of Chikungunya virus infection, including sudden fever, itchy rash, and severe joint pain.
Despite not being life-threatening, symptoms typically last for one to two weeks, with joint pain potentially persisting for weeks or even months. There is no specific treatment for the virus; symptoms are managed with pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications. Prevention primarily involves protecting against mosquito bites, such as wearing long clothing, using mosquito repellent, and using mosquito nets.
The patient in Baden-Württemberg contracted the infection on July 12. Initially, due to living in an area with established populations of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), the treating physicians had suspected a possible Chikungunya infection. Subsequent testing, including for Sindbis virus infection, confirmed the diagnosis in September.
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