TY - JOUR
T1 - A multidisciplinary approach to the detection of and response to West Nile virus in the Netherlands between 2020 and 2023
T2 - best practices, challenges and opportunities
AU - de Best, Pauline A.
AU - Braks, Marieta
AU - Gröne, Andrea
AU - van den Brand, Judith M.A.
AU - de Bellegarde de Saint Lary, Chiara
AU - Münger, Emmanuelle
AU - Atama, Nnomzie
AU - Kasbergen, Louella
AU - van der Jeugd, Henk
AU - Streng, Kiki
AU - Visser, Leo
AU - Krol, Louie
AU - Schrama, Maarten
AU - Bruijning-Verhagen, Patricia
AU - Blom, Rody
AU - Koenraadt, Constantianus
AU - van der Poel, Wim
AU - Stroo, Arjan
AU - Ibanez-Justicia, Adolfo
AU - Voordouw, Bettie
AU - Reusken, Chantal
AU - Brandwagt, Diederik
AU - Franz, Eelco
AU - Sprong, Hein
AU - Reimerink, Johan
AU - van der Giessen, Joke
AU - Opten, Ragna
AU - Feenstra, Sabiena
AU - Zaaijer, Hans
AU - Feltkamp, Mariet
AU - Graham, Heather
AU - Holwerda, Melle
AU - van Maanen, Kees
AU - Raven, Stijn
AU - Visser, Vannessa
AU - Timen, Aura
AU - Sikkema, Reina S.
AU - Koopmans, Marion P.G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All rights reserved.
PY - 2026/3/12
Y1 - 2026/3/12
N2 - Background: In the Netherlands, locally acquired animal and human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) were first identified in 2020 via multidisciplinary WNV monitoring and research activities focusing on mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans. Aim: We investigated how different activities contributed to WNV detection and response in the Netherlands between 2020 and 2023, to determine best practices, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Methods: We identified WNV monitoring and research activities in the Netherlands from 2020 to 2023 and analysed their timeliness to detect and react to WNV circulation. An after-action review (AAR) was conducted with national WNV experts to assess best practices and challenges in the multidisciplinary approach. Resluts: In 2020, WNV circulation was discovered in an infected bird through a wild live bird research survey and subsequently through mosquito research and monitoring. Thirty-five days after finding the WNV-PCR-positive bird, the first autochthonous human case was uncovered. Between 2021 and 2023, research projects in animals, including sentinel chickens, detected ongoing local enzootic WNV circulation. The AAR highlighted rapid information sharing and interpretation, enabled by multidisciplinary collaborations, as best practice. However, differing institute priorities could sometimes lead to diverging views on follow-up actions. Conclusion: Research and monitoring activities in mosquitoes and animals, particularly wild birds and sentinel chickens, enabled early detection of WNV circulation. Real-time testing could provide early warning of human cases, enabling timely responses. Therefore, these research and monitoring activities should be maintained. Multidisciplinary collaboration enabled rapid detection and response, and addressing remaining challenges could further strengthen effectiveness.
AB - Background: In the Netherlands, locally acquired animal and human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) were first identified in 2020 via multidisciplinary WNV monitoring and research activities focusing on mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans. Aim: We investigated how different activities contributed to WNV detection and response in the Netherlands between 2020 and 2023, to determine best practices, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Methods: We identified WNV monitoring and research activities in the Netherlands from 2020 to 2023 and analysed their timeliness to detect and react to WNV circulation. An after-action review (AAR) was conducted with national WNV experts to assess best practices and challenges in the multidisciplinary approach. Resluts: In 2020, WNV circulation was discovered in an infected bird through a wild live bird research survey and subsequently through mosquito research and monitoring. Thirty-five days after finding the WNV-PCR-positive bird, the first autochthonous human case was uncovered. Between 2021 and 2023, research projects in animals, including sentinel chickens, detected ongoing local enzootic WNV circulation. The AAR highlighted rapid information sharing and interpretation, enabled by multidisciplinary collaborations, as best practice. However, differing institute priorities could sometimes lead to diverging views on follow-up actions. Conclusion: Research and monitoring activities in mosquitoes and animals, particularly wild birds and sentinel chickens, enabled early detection of WNV circulation. Real-time testing could provide early warning of human cases, enabling timely responses. Therefore, these research and monitoring activities should be maintained. Multidisciplinary collaboration enabled rapid detection and response, and addressing remaining challenges could further strengthen effectiveness.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033447646
U2 - 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.10.2500276
DO - 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.10.2500276
M3 - Article
C2 - 41822983
AN - SCOPUS:105033447646
SN - 1025-496X
VL - 31
JO - Eurosurveillance
JF - Eurosurveillance
IS - 10
ER -