Knudsen Troels Bygum, Andersen Ove, Kronborg Gitte
Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Hvidovre. Kettegaards Alle 30, 2650 Denmark.
Scand J Infect Dis. 2003;35(11-12):820-5. doi: 10.1080/00365540310016835.
The present paper reviews the American epidemic of West Nile Fever (WNF), which is the largest recorded outbreak ever. The epidemiological consequences of introducing a novel and immunologically unknown pathogen in a previously unexposed population and the possible evolution of a more pathogenic viral strain are discussed. In view of recent reports of imported cases in Denmark the issue of possible disease spread to Scandinavia is likewise addressed. However, the main scope of the article is to provide the clinician with an overview of the natural history, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the disease.
本文回顾了美国西尼罗河热（WNF）疫情，这是有记录以来最大规模的疫情爆发。文中讨论了在以前未接触过该病原体的人群中引入一种新型且免疫情况未知的病原体所产生的流行病学后果，以及更具致病性的病毒株可能的演变情况。鉴于丹麦最近有输入性病例的报告，文中同样探讨了疾病可能传播至斯堪的纳维亚半岛的问题。然而，本文的主要目的是为临床医生提供该疾病自然史、流行病学和临床特征的概述。
