Unexpected Increase of Alveolar Echincoccosis, Austria, 2011

Abstract

Austria is part of the classical area of central Europe to which alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is endemic. Annual incidences in Austria were 2.4 and 2.8 cases/100,000 population during 1991–2000 and 2001–2010, respectively. Hence, the registration of 13 new AE patients in 2011 was unexpected. Increasing fox populations and past AE underreporting might have caused this increase.

Keywords

• Alveolar echinococcosis
• incidence
• Austria
• helminth
• parasites
• Echinococcus multilocularis