Eurosurveillance: Most Cited Articles http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/eurosurveillance?TRACK=RSS Please follow the links to view the content. Detection of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) by real-time RT-PCR http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.3.2000045?TRACK=RSS Background The ongoing outbreak of the recently emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) poses a challenge for public health laboratories as virus isolates are unavailable while there is growing evidence that the outbreak is more widespread than initially thought, and international spread through travellers does already occur. Aim We aimed to develop and deploy robust diagnostic methodology for use in public health laboratory settings without having virus material available. Methods Here we present a validated diagnostic workflow for 2019-nCoV, its design relying on close genetic relatedness of 2019-nCoV with SARS coronavirus, making use of synthetic nucleic acid technology. Results The workflow reliably detects 2019-nCoV, and further discriminates 2019-nCoV from SARS-CoV. Through coordination between academic and public laboratories, we confirmed assay exclusivity based on 297 original clinical specimens containing a full spectrum of human respiratory viruses. Control material is made available through European Virus Archive – Global (EVAg), a European Union infrastructure project. Conclusion The present study demonstrates the enormous response capacity achieved through coordination of academic and public laboratories in national and European research networks. Victor M Corman, Olfert Landt, Marco Kaiser, Richard Molenkamp, Adam Meijer, Daniel KW Chu, Tobias Bleicker, Sebastian Brünink, Julia Schneider, Marie Luisa Schmidt, Daphne GJC Mulders, Bart L Haagmans, Bas van der Veer, Sharon van den Brink, Lisa Wijsman, Gabriel Goderski, Jean-Louis Romette, Joanna Ellis, Maria Zambon, Malik Peiris, Herman Goossens, Chantal Reusken, Marion PG Koopmans and Christian Drosten Thu Jan 23 19:31:18 UTC 2020Z Zika virus infection complicated by Guillain-Barré syndrome – case report, French Polynesia, December 2013 http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.9.20720?TRACK=RSS Zika fever, considered as an emerging disease of arboviral origin, because of its expanding geographic area, is known as a benign infection usually presenting as an influenza-like illness with cutaneous rash. So far, Zika virus infection has never led to hospitalisation. We describe the first case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurring immediately after a Zika virus infection, during the current Zika and type 1 and 3 dengue fever co-epidemics in French Polynesia. . E Oehler, L Watrin, P Larre, I Leparc-Goffart, S Lastère, F Valour, L Baudouin, H P Mallet, D Musso and F Ghawche Tue Jun 13 12:58:22 UTC 2017Z Estimating the asymptomatic proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, Yokohama, Japan, 2020 http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.10.2000180?TRACK=RSS On 5 February 2020, in Yokohama, Japan, a cruise ship hosting 3,711 people underwent a 2-week quarantine after a former passenger was found with COVID-19 post-disembarking. As at 20 February, 634 persons on board tested positive for the causative virus. We conducted statistical modelling to derive the delay-adjusted asymptomatic proportion of infections, along with the infections’ timeline. The estimated asymptomatic proportion was 17.9% (95% credible interval (CrI): 15.5–20.2%). Most infections occurred before the quarantine start. Kenji Mizumoto, Katsushi Kagaya, Alexander Zarebski and Gerardo Chowell Thu Mar 12 17:01:26 UTC 2020Z Evidence of perinatal transmission of Zika virus, French Polynesia, December 2013 and February 2014 http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.13.20751?TRACK=RSS A Zika virus (ZIKAV) outbreak started in October 2013 in French Polynesia, South Pacific. We describe here the clinical and laboratory features of two mothers and their newborns who had ZIKAV infection as confirmed by ZIKAV RT-PCR performed on serum collected within four days post-delivery in date. The infants' infection most probably occurred by transplacental transmission or during delivery. Attention should be paid to ZIKAV-infected pregnant women and their newborns, as data on the impact on them are limited. . M Besnard, S Lastère, A Teissier, V M Cao-Lormeau and D Musso Tue Jun 13 12:57:31 UTC 2017Z Potential for Zika virus transmission through blood transfusion demonstrated during an outbreak in French Polynesia, November 2013 to February 2014 http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.14.20761?TRACK=RSS Since October 2013, French Polynesia has experienced the largest documented outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKAV) infection. To prevent transmission of ZIKAV by blood transfusion, specific nucleic acid testing of blood donors was implemented. From November 2013 to February 2014: 42 (3%) of 1,505 blood donors, although asymptomatic at the time of blood donation, were found positive for ZIKAV by PCR. Our results serve to alert blood safety authorities about the risk of post-transfusion Zika fever. D Musso, T Nhan, E Robin, C Roche, D Bierlaire, K Zisou, A Shan Yan, V M Cao-Lormeau and J Broult Tue Jun 13 12:58:19 UTC 2017Z GISAID: Global initiative on sharing all influenza data – from vision to reality http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.13.30494?TRACK=RSS Yuelong Shu and John McCauley Tue Jun 13 15:12:48 UTC 2017Z Identification of a novel plasmid-mediated colistin-resistance gene, mcr-2, in Escherichia coli, Belgium, June 2016 http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.27.30280?TRACK=RSS We identified a novel plasmid-mediated colistin-resistance gene in porcine and bovine colistin-resistant Escherichia coli that did not contain mcr-1. The gene, termed mcr-2, a 1,617 bp phosphoethanolamine transferase harboured on an IncX4 plasmid, has 76.7% nucleotide identity to mcr-1. Prevalence of mcr-2 in porcine colistin-resistant E. coli (11/53) in Belgium was higher than that of mcr-1 (7/53). These data call for an immediate introduction of mcr-2 screening in ongoing molecular epidemiological surveillance of colistin-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Basil Britto Xavier, Christine Lammens, Rohit Ruhal, Samir Kumar-Singh, Patrick Butaye, Herman Goossens and Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar Tue Dec 13 14:15:28 UTC 2016Z Incubation period of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infections among travellers from Wuhan, China, 20–28 January 2020 http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.5.2000062?TRACK=RSS A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is causing an outbreak of viral pneumonia that started in Wuhan, China. Using the travel history and symptom onset of 88 confirmed cases that were detected outside Wuhan in the early outbreak phase, we estimate the mean incubation period to be 6.4 days (95% credible interval: 5.6–7.7), ranging from 2.1 to 11.1 days (2.5th to 97.5th percentile). These values should help inform 2019-nCoV case definitions and appropriate quarantine durations. Jantien A Backer, Don Klinkenberg and Jacco Wallinga Thu Feb 06 17:26:22 UTC 2020Z Concurrent outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus infections – an unprecedented epidemic wave of mosquito-borne viruses in the Pacific 2012–2014 http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.41.20929?TRACK=RSS Since January 2012, the Pacific Region has experienced 28 new documented outbreaks and circulation of dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus. These mosquito-borne disease epidemics seem to become more frequent and diverse, and it is likely that this is only the early stages of a wave that will continue for several years. Improved surveillance and response measures are needed to mitigate the already heavy burden on island health systems and limit further spread to other parts of the world. A Roth, A Mercier, C Lepers, D Hoy, S Duituturaga, E Benyon, L Guillaumot and Y Souarès Tue Jun 13 13:01:00 UTC 2017Z Stability of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) under different environmental conditions http://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2013.18.38.20590?TRACK=RSS The stability of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was determined at 20°C - 40% relative humidity (RH); 30°C - 30% RH and 30°C - 80% RH. MERS-CoV was more stable at low temperature/low humidity conditions and could still be recovered after 48 hours. During aerosolisation of MERS-CoV, no decrease in stability was observed at 20°C - 40% RH. These data suggest the potential of MERS-CoV to be transmitted via contact or fomite transmission due to prolonged environmental presence. . N van Doremalen, T Bushmaker and V J Munster Tue Jun 13 07:47:26 UTC 2017Z