TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2023 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2024 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2023 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2024 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van anaplasmose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Ann Van Honsebrouck A1 - Vincent Claes ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van brucellose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marcella Mori ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van leptospirose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van Lyme borreliose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Lize Cuypers A1 - Sherihane Bensemmane A1 - Géraldine Dessilly A1 - Annaïs Scohy A1 - Lagrou, Katrien A1 - Melissa Depypere A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van Lyme borreliose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Lize Cuypers A1 - Sherihane Bensemmane A1 - Géraldine Dessily A1 - Annaïs Scohy A1 - Lagrou, Katrien A1 - Melissa Depypere A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van psittacose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Anne De Meyst A1 - Daisy Van Rompay ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van psittacose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Anne De Meyst A1 - Daisy Van Rompay ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van tekenencefalitis - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - JOUR T1 - First Expert Elicitation of Knowledge on Possible Drivers of Observed Increasing Human Cases of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Europe JF - Viruses Y1 - 2023 A1 - Saegerman, Claude A1 - Marie-France Humblet A1 - Marc Leandri A1 - Gaëlle Gonzalez A1 - Heyman, Paul A1 - Sprong, Hein A1 - Monique L’Hostis A1 - Sara Moutailler A1 - Sarah I. Bonnet A1 - Nadia Haddad A1 - Nathalie Boulanger A1 - Stephen L. Leib A1 - Thierry Hoch A1 - Thiry, Etienne A1 - Laure Bournez A1 - Jana Kerlik A1 - Aurélie Velay A1 - Jore, Solveig A1 - Elsa Jourdain A1 - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont A1 - Katharina Brugger A1 - Julia Geller A1 - Marie Studahl A1 - Nataša Knap A1 - Tatjana Avšič-Županc A1 - Daniel Růžek A1 - Tizza P. Zomer A1 - René Bødker A1 - Thomas F.H. Berger A1 - Sandra Martin-Latil A1 - Nick De Regge A1 - Alice Raffetin A1 - Sandrine A. Lacour A1 - Matthias Klein A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Elsa Quillery A1 - Hubálek, Zdeněk A1 - Francisco Ruiz-Fons A1 - Agustín Estrada-Peña A1 - Philippe Fravalo A1 - Pauline Kooh A1 - Florence Etore A1 - Céline M. Gossner A1 - Bethan Purse VL - 15 CP - 3 M3 - 10.3390/v15030791 ER - TY - Generic T1 - Knowledge, perceptions and practices related to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses: survey in Belgium, 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Valeska Laisnez A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Ruben Brondeel A1 - Ayat Abourashed A1 - Pauline de Best A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Javiera Rebolledo KW - Health Belief Model KW - KNOWLEDGE KW - Mosquitoes KW - Perception KW - Vector Borne Diseases AB -

Background

Effective preparedness for emerging mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs) relies on citizens having good knowledge and taking appropriate preventive measures. We assessed current knowledge, perceptions and practices related to mosquitoes and MBVs among adults in Belgium to guide future health promotion activities.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we conducted an online survey among adults recruited via social media (One Health PACT’s MosquitoWise survey using the Health Belief Model). We included questions on demographic variables;  knowledge;  perceptions, self-efficacy and cues to actions (Likert scales); and  preventive measures. We assigned knowledge levels (low, medium or high depending on number of correct answers) and scores for perceptions, self-efficacy, cues to action and preventive measures.

Results

We included 776 participants (62% females), of which 50% had a medium and 40% a high knowledge level. Participants scored high on questions related to mosquito ecology but lower on MBVs. Only 19% of participants correctly identified mosquitoes among pictures of insects.

Participants perceived the severity of MBVs as high (mean score 6.0/7.0), but their susceptibility to MBVs and mosquitoes lower (4.3/7.0). Participants were most motivated to take preventive measures upon observing mosquitoes in and around the house (cues to action, 5.3/7.0). Participants had limited confidence in finding information on preventive measures and in recognizing and removing breeding sites (self-efficacy, 4.8/7.0). Ninety-seven percent of participants reported implementing at least one preventive measure, mainly to prevent bites (95%).

Conclusions

Together with the recent findings of tiger mosquitoes in Belgium, based on our study results we recommend to improve knowledge about MBVs and awareness about possible transmission in Belgium in the future. Information on recognizing mosquitoes and removing breeding sites should be easy to find.

JF - ESCAIDE PB - ECDC CY - Barcelona, Spain ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Monitoring of Exotic Mosquitoes in Belgium: Annual report 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Isra Deblauwe A1 - Anna Schneider A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Ruth Müller A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Wim Van Bortel ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Monitoring van exotische muggen in België (MEMO+): Samenvatting van de resultaten van de surveillance in 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Isra Deblauwe A1 - Anna Schneider A1 - Ruth Müller A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Wim Van Bortel A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - MEMO+ KW - muggensurveillance KW - tijgermug ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Onderzoek naar ziektekiemen in teken - Tekeninzameling april-oktober 2021 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Camille Philippe A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Marcella Mori A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Recherche de pathogènes présents chez les tiques - Collecte de tiques avril-octobre 2021 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Camille Philippe A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Marcella Mori A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Scientific advisory councils in the COVID-19 response JF - The Lancet Y1 - 2023 A1 - Jean-François Delfraissy A1 - Mary Horgan A1 - Simón, Fernando Soria A1 - Patrick Vallance A1 - Laetitia Atlani-Duault A1 - Daniel Benamouzig A1 - Lila Bouadma A1 - Simon Cauchemez A1 - Catherine Chirouze A1 - Angèle Consoli A1 - Pierre-Louis Druais A1 - Arnaud Fontanet A1 - Marie-Aleth Grard A1 - Olivier Guérin A1 - Laetitia Huiart A1 - Hoang, Aymeril A1 - Thierry Lefrançois A1 - Bruno Lina A1 - Denis Malvy A1 - Yazdanpanah, Yazdan A1 - Chris Whitty A1 - Simon Whitfield A1 - Wendy Barclay A1 - Charlotte Caplan A1 - James Lobo A1 - Andrew Buckley A1 - Lothar Wieler A1 - Johanna Hanefeld A1 - Steffen Semmler A1 - Tim Eckmanns A1 - Fernando Simon Soria A1 - Walter Ricciardi A1 - Anna-Teresa Palamara A1 - Silvio Brusaferro A1 - Tanja Stadler A1 - Martin Ackermann A1 - Sarah Tschudin-Sutter A1 - Roman Stocker A1 - Steven Van Gucht A1 - Mathias Dewatripont A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Damme, Pierre A1 - Céline Nieuwenhuys A1 - Vlieghe, Erika A1 - Jaap van Dissel A1 - Lisa Schipper A1 - Susan van den Hof A1 - Corien Swaan A1 - Mary M. Horgan A1 - Paddy Mallon A1 - Mølbak, Kåre A1 - Didier Pittet M3 - 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01846-9 ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance des moustiques exotiques en Belgique (MEMO+): Résumé des résultats de la surveillance en 2022. Y1 - 2023 A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Isra Deblauwe A1 - Anna Schneider A1 - Ruth Müller A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Wim Van Bortel A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la borréliose de Lyme - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Lize Cuypers A1 - Sherihane Bensemmane A1 - Géraldine Dessilly A1 - Annaïs Scohy A1 - Lagrou, Katrien A1 - Melissa Depypere A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la borréliose de Lyme - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Lize Cuypers A1 - Sherihane Bensemmane A1 - Géraldine Dessily A1 - Annaïs Scohy A1 - Lagrou, Katrien A1 - Melissa Depypere A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la brucellose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marcella Mori ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la leptospirose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la psittacose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Anne De Meyst A1 - Daisy Van Rompay ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la psittacose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Anne De Meyst A1 - Daisy Van Rompay ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de l'anaplasmose - 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Ann Vanhonsebrouck A1 - Vincent Claes ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2022 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2023 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2022 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2023 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Were SARS-CoV-2 self-tests used for their intended purpose? The experience in Belgium. JF - BMC Health Serv Res Y1 - 2023 A1 - Yves Lafort A1 - Laura Cornelissen A1 - Dieter Van Cauteren A1 - Barbara Verboven A1 - Sabine Drieskens A1 - Simon Couvreur A1 - Lize Hermans A1 - Koen Straetmans A1 - Tinne Lernout AB -

BACKGROUND: Self-testing has been promoted as a means of increasing COVID-19 test coverage. In Belgium, self-testing was recommended as a complement to the formal, provider-administered indications, such as out of courtesy before meeting others and when feared to be infected. More than a year after the introduction of self-testing their place in the test strategy was evaluated.

METHODS: We assessed trends in the number of self-tests sold, the number of positive self-tests reported, the proportion sold self-tests/total tests, and the proportion of all positive tests that were confirmed self-tests. To evaluate the reason why people use self-tests, we used the results of two online surveys among members of the general population: one among 27,397 people, held in April 2021, and one among 22,354 people, held in December 2021.

RESULTS: The use of self-tests became substantial from end 2021 onwards. In the period mid-November 2021 - end-of-June 2022, the average proportion of reported sold self-tests to all COVID-19 tests was 37% and 14% of all positive tests were positive self-tests. In both surveys, the main reported reasons for using a self-test were having symptoms (34% of users in April 2021 and 31% in December 2021) and after a risk contact (27% in both April and December). Moreover, the number of self-tests sold, and the number of positive self-tests reported closely followed the same trend as the provider-administered tests in symptomatic people and high risk-contacts, which reinforces the hypothesis that they were mainly used for these two indications.

CONCLUSIONS: From end 2021 onwards, self-testing covered a significant part of COVID-19 testing in Belgium, which increased without doubt the testing coverage. However, the available data seem to indicate that self-testing was mostly used for indications outside of official recommendations. If and how this affected the control of the epidemic remains unknown.

VL - 23 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s12913-023-09704-0 ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Samenvattend jaaroverzicht 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Giulietta Stefani ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Samenvattend jaaroverzicht 2019-2021 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Giulietta Stefani ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Synthèse annuelle 2019-2021 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Giulietta Stefani ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Synthèse annuelle 2022 Y1 - 2023 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Giulietta Stefani ER - TY - Generic T1 - Belgium improves CBRNe preparedness through monitoring Y1 - 2022 A1 - Barend Cochez A1 - Franck Limonier A1 - Laura Demullier A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - An Fremout PB - NCT Magazine CY - Leiden, The Netherlands ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van anaplasmose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2022 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Ann Vanhonsebrouck A1 - Vincent Claes ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van brucellose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2022 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marcella Mori ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van leptospirose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2022 A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van tekenencefalitis - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2022 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marjan Van Esbroeck ER - TY - Generic T1 - ESCAIDE 2022: Translating the COVID-19 epidemiological situation into policies and measures: the Belgian experience Y1 - 2022 A1 - Géraldine de Muylder A1 - Valeska Laisnez A1 - Giulietta Stefani A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - COVID-19 ; risk assessment AB -

Background

In 2008, in line with the WHO International Health Regulation, Belgium put in place a Risk Assessment Group (RAG) and a Risk Management Group (RMG) to ensure optimal health crisis management. The RAG, involving permanent (public health) experts supported by specific experts, analyses events causing possible risk to health and proposes prevention and control measures to the RMG. The RMG, composed of health authorities, decides on measures to be taken and follows-up the implementation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the RAG provided advises on a wide range of topics. Among those, a weekly assessment of the epidemiological situation was performed to guide policy makers. We present here the method used for this assessment, and the link with recommended measures.

 

Methods

A comprehensive evaluation of the epidemiological situation was performed on a weekly basis using basic (cases, hospitalisations, testing, positivity rates, …) and supporting (waste water, nursing homes, schools, mobility, …) surveillance indicators.

Results

The first epidemiological risk assessment on COVID-19 was performed by the RAG on January 20, 2020, followed by regular updates. From August 2020 onwards, a weekly update was provided, with as of early May 2022, 87 weekly assessments done. In addition, a dynamic tool was developed to link the epidemiological situation to a risk level, using colours and/or phases. The indicators and thresholds evolved over time, depending on advancing knowledge, immunity and vaccination of the population, changes in test strategy and new variants.

Discussion and conclusion

The assessment by experts from different disciplines in an autonomous scientific advisory body and the classification of the risk according to different levels supported policy makers to decide on non-pharmaceutical interventions and testing strategy, at national and regional level.

JF - ESCAIDE PB - ESCAIDE CY - Stockholm, Sweden ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Lyme borreliosis in Belgium: a cost-of-illness analysis JF - BMC Public Health Y1 - 2022 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Brecht Devleesschauwer A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Yves Parmentier A1 - Herman Van Oyen A1 - Niko Speybroeck A1 - Philippe Beutels KW - Belgium KW - Disseminated Lyme borreliosis KW - Economic cost KW - Erythema migrans KW - Late Lyme borreliosis KW - Lyme borreliosis AB -

Background. Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease in Europe and North America, yet its economic burden remains largely unknown. This study aimed to estimate the economic cost associated with the different clinical manifestations of LB in Belgium.

Methods. An incidence approach and societal perspective were used to estimate the total cost-of-illness for LB in Belgium. Costs were calculated for patients with erythema migrans (EM) or disseminated/late LB, including patients who developed post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Direct medical, direct non-medical (transportation & paid help) and indirect non-medical costs (productivity losses) were included in the analysis. Ambulatory cost data were collected through a prospective cohort study from June 2016 to March 2020, in which patients with LB were followed up 6 to 12 months after diagnosis. Hospitalization costs were retrieved from the Minimal Clinical Data registry, a mandatory registry for all Belgian hospitals, linked to the Minimal Financial Data registry. Costs were expressed in 2019 euros.

Results. The total annual cost associated with clinical manifestations of LB in Belgium was estimated at €5.59 million (95% UI 3.82–7.98). Of these, €3.44 million (95% UI 2.05–5.48) or 62% was related to disseminated/late LB diagnoses and €2.15 million (95% UI 1.30–3.26) to EM. In general, direct medical costs and productivity losses accounted for 49.8% and 46.4% of the total costs, respectively, while direct non-medical costs accounted for only 3.8%. The estimated mean costs were €193 per EM patient and €5,148 per disseminated/late LB patient. While patients with PTLDS seemed to have somewhat higher costs compared to patients without PTLDS, the number of patients was too small to have representative estimates.

Conclusions. We estimate the total annual direct medical costs, direct non-medical and indirect non-medical costs associated with LB to exceed €5.5 million per year, almost evenly distributed between EM (40%) and disseminated/late LB (60%). EM costs 26 times less per patient but occurs also 16 times more frequently than disseminated/late LB. The cost burden remains limited by comparison to other infectious diseases due to the relative lower incidence.

VL - 22 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s12889-022-14380-6 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - No molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in the blood of patients with erythema migrans in Belgium JF - Parasites & Vectors Y1 - 2022 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Sanne Terryn A1 - Joppe W. Hovius A1 - Arieke Docters van Leeuwen A1 - Steven Van Gucht A1 - Speybroeck, Niko A1 - Sprong, Hein KW - Erythema migrans KW - Ixodes ricinus KW - Lyme borreliosis KW - Neoehrlichosis KW - Neoerhlichia mikurensis KW - Tick-borne pathogens AB -

Background

A number of tick-borne pathogens circulate in the Belgian tick population in addition to the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis. However, so far, only a few patients with tick-borne diseases other than Lyme borreliosis have been reported in Belgium. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of other human tick-borne infections in Belgium and their possible clinical manifestation.

Methods

Patients with fever (> 37.5 °C) after a tick bite or those with erythema migrans (EM) were included in the study. EDTA-blood samples were screened for the presence of DNA from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, spotted fever group rickettsiae (genus Rickettsia), Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Spiroplasma ixodetis and tick-borne encephalitis virus, using multiplex PCR methods. A questionnaire on, among others, demographics and clinical symptoms, was also filled in.

Results

Over a period of 3 years, 119 patients with EM and 14 patients with fever after a recent tick bite were enrolled in the study. Three samples initially tested positive for N. mikurensis by quantitative PCR (qPCR), but the results could not be confirmed by other PCR methods, and repetition of the DNA extraction procedure and qPCR test was not successful. The qPCR test results for the other tick-borne pathogens were negative.

Conclusions

In general, only a few patients with fever after a tick bite could be identified. Although no tick-borne pathogens were detected, their occurrence cannot be excluded based on the limited number of patients and the limitations inherent to current methodologies. This study underscores the possibility of false-positive PCR results and the necessity for the development of multiple independent tools for the sensitive and specific detection of emerging tick-borne pathogens.

VL - 15 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s13071-021-05139-w ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Non-specific symptoms and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome in patients with Lyme borreliosis: a prospective cohort study in Belgium (2016–2020) JF - BMC Infectious Diseases Y1 - 2022 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Brecht Devleesschauwer A1 - Benoît Kabamba-Mukadi A1 - Veroniek Saegeman A1 - Leïla Belkhir A1 - Paul De Munter A1 - Bénédicte Dubois A1 - Rene Westhovens A1 - Jean-Baptiste Giot A1 - Philippe Léonard A1 - Riet Vangheluwe A1 - Grégoire Wieërs A1 - Jean-Christophe Marot A1 - Frédéric Evrard A1 - Bénédicte Delaere A1 - Séverine Noirhomme A1 - Els Binnemans A1 - Johan Vanhoof A1 - Herman Van Oyen A1 - Niko Speybroeck A1 - Katrien Tersago KW - Disseminated Lyme borreliosis KW - Erythema migrans KW - Lyme borreliosis KW - Persisting non-specific symptoms KW - Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome AB -

Background

Patients with Lyme borreliosis (LB) may report persisting non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, widespread musculoskeletal pain or cognitive difficulties. When present for more than 6 months and causing a reduction in daily activities, this is often referred to as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). This study aimed to compare the occurrence of symptoms between LB patients and controls, to estimate the proportion of LB patients developing PTLDS and to identify risk factors.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was set up including three subpopulations: patients with an erythema migrans (EM) (i) or disseminated/late LB (ii) and a non-LB control group (iii). At 6- and 12-months follow-up, the occurrence of several symptoms, including six symptoms used to define PTLDS, i.e. muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, memory problems, difficulties concentrating and problems finding words, and impact on daily activities, was compared between LB patients and controls. Finally, the proportion of LB patients developing PTLDS as defined by the Infectious Disease Society of America was estimated, including a time frame for symptoms to be present.

Results

Although the risk of presenting PTLDS-related symptoms was significantly higher in EM patients (n = 120) compared to controls (n = 128) at 6 months follow-up, the risk of presenting at least one of these symptoms combined with impact on daily activities was not significantly higher in EM patients, at either 6- or 12-months follow-up. A significant association was found between disseminated/late LB (n = 15) and the occurrence of any PTLDS-symptom with an impact on daily activities at both time points. The proportion of patients with PTLDS was estimated at 5.9% (95% CI 2.7–12.9) in EM patients and 20.9% (95% CI 6.8–64.4) in patients with disseminated/late LB (RR = 3.53, 95% CI 0.98–12.68, p = 0.053). No significant risk factors were identified, which may be explained by small sample sizes.

Conclusions

In our study, PTLDS was present in both LB cohorts, yet with a higher percentage in disseminated/late LB patients. Additional research is needed into risk factors for and causes of this syndrome. In addition, development and validation of standardized methods to assess the PTLDS case definition, easily applicable in practice, is of great importance.

VL - 22 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s12879-022-07686-8 ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la brucellose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2022 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marcella Mori ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la leptospirose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2022 A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de l'anaplasmose - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2022 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Ann Van Honsebrouck A1 - Vincent Claes ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de l'encéphalite à tiques - 2019-2021 Y1 - 2022 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marjan Van Esbroeck ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2021 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2022 A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - burgersurveillance KW - Lyme-borreliose KW - preventie KW - risicokaart KW - teken KW - tekenbeten ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2021 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2022 A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - borréliose de Lyme KW - carte de risque KW - morsures de tiques KW - prevention KW - surveillance citoyenne KW - tiques ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Closing schools for SARS-CoV-2: a pragmatic rapid recommendation JF - BMJ Paediatr Open Y1 - 2021 A1 - Geertruida Bekkering A1 - Nicolas Delvaux A1 - Patrik Vankrunkelsven A1 - Toelen, Jaan A1 - Sigrid Aertgeerts A1 - Sofie Crommen A1 - Pedro De Bruyckere A1 - Ignaas Devisch A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Katrien Masschalck A1 - Nore Milissen A1 - Molenberghs, Geert A1 - Annelies Pascal A1 - Oscar Plomteux A1 - Marc Raes A1 - Lise Rans A1 - Alexandra Seghers A1 - Lode Sweldens A1 - Jeroen Vandenbussche A1 - Guido Vanham A1 - Elke Wollants A1 - Bert Aertgeerts AB -

Background: In Belgium, schools closed during the first lockdown in March 2020, with a partial reopening in May. They fully reopened in September. During the summer, infections started to increase in the general population, speeding up in September. Some measures were taken to limit social contacts but those were insufficient to mitigate the exponential rise of infections in October. Children were still receiving all lessons at school at that time and it was questioned whether this position was tenable. We systematically compared the benefits and harms of closing primary and secondary schools and developed a recommendation.

Methods: A multidisciplinary panel, including school pupils and teachers, educational experts, clinicians and researchers, produced this recommendation in compliance with the standards for trustworthy rapid guidelines. The recommendation is based on data collected through national surveillance or studies from Belgium, and supported by a rapid literature review.

Results: Closing schools during the first lockdown probably resulted in a large learning delay and possibly led to more cases of child abuse. We are uncertain about the effect on the infection rate, hospitalisations, transmission rates, mental health of children, teachers and parents. The panel concluded that the balance of benefits and harms of closing schools clearly shifts against closing schools. Detrimental effects are even worse for vulnerable children. This recommendation is affected by the local virus circulation.

Conclusion: The guideline panel issues a strong recommendation against closing schools when the virus circulation is low to moderate, and a weak recommendation against closing schools when the virus circulation is high. It does not apply when the school system cannot function due to lack of teachers, too many children who are at home or a shortage of support services. As the results of international studies are consistent with Belgian study results, this recommendation may also be relevant internationally.

VL - 5 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000971 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Confirmed COVID-19 Cases per Economic Activity during Autumn Wave in Belgium. JF - Int J Environ Res Public Health Y1 - 2021 A1 - Johan Verbeeck A1 - Godelieve Vandersmissen A1 - Jannes Peeters A1 - Sofieke Klamer A1 - Sharon Hancart A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Mathias Dewatripont A1 - Godderis, Lode A1 - Molenberghs, Geert KW - Belgium KW - Communicable Disease Control KW - COVID-19 KW - Humans KW - Occupations KW - SARS-CoV-2 AB -

Some occupational sectors, such as human health and care, food service, cultural and sport activities, have been associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection than other sectors. To curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2, it is preferable to apply targeted non-pharmaceutical interventions on selected economic sectors, rather than a full lockdown. However, the effect of these general and sector-specific interventions on the virus circulation has only been sparsely studied. We assess the COVID-19 incidence under different levels of non-pharmaceutical interventions per economic activity during the autumn 2020 wave in Belgium. The 14-day incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases per the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE-BEL) sector is modelled by a longitudinal Gaussian-Gaussian two-stage approach. This is based on exhaustive data on all employees in all sectors. In the presence of sanitary protocols and minimal non-pharmaceutical interventions, many sectors with close contact with others show considerably higher COVID-19 14-day incidences than other sectors. The effect of stricter non-pharmaceutical interventions in the general population and non-essential sectors is seen in the timing of the peak incidence and the width and height of the post-peak incidence. In most sectors incidences returned to higher levels after the peak than before and this decrease took longer for the health and care sector. Sanitary protocols for close proximity occupations may be sufficient during periods of low-level virus circulation, but progressively less with increasing circulation. Stricter general and sector-specific non-pharmaceutical interventions adequately decrease COVID-19 incidences, even in close proximity in essential sectors under solely sanitary protocols.

VL - 18 CP - 23 M3 - 10.3390/ijerph182312489 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - One year of laboratory-based COVID-19 surveillance system in Belgium: main indicators and performance of the laboratories (March 2020-21). JF - Arch Public Health Y1 - 2021 A1 - Marjan Meurisse A1 - Adrien Lajot A1 - Yves Dupont A1 - Marie Lesenfants A1 - Sofieke Klamer A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Arnaud Capron A1 - Johan Van Bussel A1 - Sophie Quoilin A1 - Emmanuel André A1 - Kaat Kehoe A1 - Luc Waumans A1 - Van Acker, Jos A1 - Vandenberg, Olivier A1 - Van den Wijngaert, Sigi A1 - Ann Verdonck A1 - Lize Cuypers A1 - Dieter Van Cauteren KW - Belgium; COVID-19; Laboratory-based surveillance; SARS-CoV-2 AB -

BACKGROUND: With the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an existing national laboratory-based surveillance system was adapted to daily monitor the epidemiological situation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the Belgium by following the number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, the number of performed tests and the positivity ratio. We present these main indicators of the surveillance over a one-year period as well as the impact of the performance of the laboratories, regarding speed of processing the samples and reporting results, for surveillance.

METHODS: We describe the evolution of test capacity, testing strategy and the data collection methods during the first year of the epidemic in Belgium.

RESULTS: Between the 1 of March 2020 and the 28 of February 2021, 9,487,470 tests and 773,078 COVID-19 laboratory confirmed cases were reported. Two epidemic waves occurred, with a peak in April and October 2020. The capacity and performance of the laboratories improved continuously during 2020 resulting in a high level performance. Since the end of November 2020 90 to 95% of the test results are reported at the latest the day after sampling was performed.

CONCLUSIONS: Thanks to the effort of all laboratories a performant exhaustive national laboratory-based surveillance system to monitor the epidemiological situation of SARS-CoV-2 was set up in Belgium in 2020. On top of expanding the number of laboratories performing diagnostics and significantly increasing the test capacity in Belgium, turnaround times between sampling and testing as well as reporting were optimized over the first year of this pandemic.

VL - 79 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s13690-021-00704-2 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The role of organizational characteristics on the outcome of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU in Belgium JF - The Lancet Regional Health - Europe Y1 - 2021 A1 - Fabio Silvio Taccone A1 - Nina Van Goethem A1 - Robby De Pauw A1 - Xavier Wittebole A1 - Koen Blot A1 - Herman Van Oyen A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marion Montourcy A1 - Geert Meyfroidt A1 - Dominique Van Beckhoven M3 - 10.1016/j.lanepe.2020.100019 ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2020 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2021 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - burgersurveillance KW - Lyme-borreliose KW - preventie KW - risicokaart KW - teken KW - tekenbeten PB - Sciensano CY - Brussels, Belgium UR - https://tekennet.sciensano.be/reports/Final_Surveillance%20van%20tekenbeten_TekenNet%202020.pdf ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2020 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2021 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - borréliose de Lyme KW - carte de risque KW - morsures de tiques KW - prevention KW - surveillance citoyenne KW - tiques PB - Sciensano CY - Brussels, Belgium UR - https://tekennet.sciensano.be/reports/Final_Surveillance%20des%20morsures%20de%20tiques_TiquesNet%202020.pdf ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Rapid establishment of a national surveillance of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Belgium JF - Archives of Public Health Y1 - 2020 A1 - Nina Van Goethem A1 - Aline Vilain A1 - Chloé Wyndham-Thomas A1 - Jessika Deblonde A1 - Nathalie Bossuyt A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Sophie Quoilin A1 - Vincent Melis A1 - Dominique Van Beckhoven VL - 78 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s13690-020-00505-z ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2019 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2020 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - burgersurveillance KW - Lyme-borreliose KW - preventie KW - risicokaart KW - teken KW - tekenbeten ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2019 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2020 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - borréliose de Lyme KW - carte de risque KW - morsures de tiques KW - prevention KW - surveillance citoyenne KW - tiques ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Combining primary care surveillance and a meta-analysis to estimate the incidence of the clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium, 2015–2017 JF - Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Y1 - 2019 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Dieter Van Cauteren A1 - Brecht Devleesschauwer A1 - S Moreels A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Herman Van Oyen A1 - Speybroeck, Niko A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - Belgium KW - Clinical manifestations KW - Erythema migrans KW - incidence KW - Lyme borreliosis KW - systematic review AB -

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is an important tick-borne disease which can cause a broad range of symptoms mainly affecting the skin, the nervous system and the joints. This study aims to estimate the incidence of the different clinical manifestations of LB in Belgium. The incidence of erythema migrans (EM) was estimated through the network of sentinel general practices at 97.6/100,000 inhabitants (uncertainty interval [UI] 82.0–113.0) for the period 2015–2017. This result was used to estimate the incidence of other LB manifestations based on their proportional distribution (ratios) to EM reported in the neighboring countries of Belgium. To estimate these ratios, we performed a systematic review of studies published between February 1, 2008 and January 31, 2018 and pooled the results using a random effects meta-analysis. Six studies were retained in the systematic review, and the meta-analysis estimated the occurrence ratios for Lyme neuroborreliosis/EM, Lyme arthritis/EM and other manifestations/EM at 0.024 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.016–0.037), 0.022 (95% CI 0.020–0.024) and 0.014 (95% CI 0.012–0.016) respectively. Applying these ratios to the EM incidence in Belgium resulted in an incidence estimation of 2.4/100,000 inhabitants (95% UI 1.5–3.7) for Lyme neuroborreliosis, 2.1/100,000 (95% UI 1.7–2.6) for Lyme arthritis and 1.4/100,000 (95% UI 1.1–1.7) for other less frequent manifestations. Some of these LB manifestations, other than EM, are more severe, hence these estimates are essential to assess the health burden and economic cost of LB which would be highly relevant for patients, healthcare providers and policymakers. As both over- and underestimation of different clinical LB manifestations remain possible due to characteristics of the primary surveillance systems and the disease itself, future studies to validate these estimates would be of great value.

VL - 10 CP - 3 M3 - 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.12.007 ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van anaplasmose - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Mony Hing ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van brucellose - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marcella Mori ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van leptospirose - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van Lyme borreliose - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Melissa Depypere A1 - Lagrou, Katrien A1 - Dieter Van Cauteren A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van psittacose - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Joanna Rybarczyk A1 - Daisy Van Rompay ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van tekenencefalitis - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Human psittacosis: a review with emphasis on surveillance in Belgium. JF - Acta Clin Belg Y1 - 2019 A1 - Joanna Rybarczyk A1 - Charlot Versteele A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Vanrompay, Daisy AB -

Chlamydia psittaci causes psittacosis in humans, mainly in persons in contact with birds in either the setting of occupational or companion bird exposure. Infection is associated with a range of clinical manifestations from asymptomatic infection to severe atypical pneumonia and systemic disease. This paper reviews new knowledge on psittacosis, its legal and regulatory aspects and presents epidemiological data on psittacosis in Belgium. In Belgium, the number of reported positive laboratory results increased slowly since 2010, and in 2017, the number almost doubled compared to the two previous years. The number of psittacosis cases in Belgium, as in other countries, is probably highly underestimated, because of underdiagnoses and underreporting. Over the 3-year period, the mandatory notification system registered 24% only of all reported positive laboratory result. Therefore, increased awareness among general and occupational physicians, clinicians and the public is needed. Policies aimed at reducing psittacosis disease burden are justified, nevertheless national health authorities should provide more legal and financial support to implement more adequate C. psittaci diagnostic tools.

M3 - 10.1080/17843286.2019.1590889 ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Infectieziekten die voorkomen kunnen worden door vaccinatie | Samenvattend jaarverslag 2017 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Chloé Wyndham-Thomas A1 - Tine Grammens A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Vinciane Sizaire A1 - Nele Boon A1 - Gaetan Muyldermans A1 - Tinne Lernout KW - bof; difterie; hepatitis B; invasieve pneumokokkeninfecties; invasieve meningokokkeninfecties; haemophilus influenzae; polio; rubella; rotavirus; tetanus; epidemiologische trends PB - Sciensano CY - Brussels ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Maladies infectieuses à prévention vaccinale. Synthèse annuelle 2017 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Chloé Wyndham-Thomas A1 - Tine Grammens A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Vinciane Sizaire A1 - Nele Boon A1 - Gaetan Muyldermans A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in humans in Belgium for the period 2013-2016 JF - Acta Clin Belg Y1 - 2019 A1 - Mony Hing A1 - Dorien Van den Bossche A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Cochez, Christel A1 - Pirnay, Jean-Paul A1 - Walter Heuninckx AB -

Ticks are vectors for a broad range of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, such as spp., spp., spp., spp., spp. and the tick-borne encephalitis virus. The Gram-negative bacterium is present worldwide, including Belgium where numerous patients were shown to harbour antibodies against this pathogen as recorded by the Belgian National Reference Center (NRC) for Anaplasma. The clinical presentation of human granulocytic anaplasmosis is an acute, febrile, nonspecific, flu-like illness. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and increased hepatic transaminase activities are commonly present early in the disease. Diagnosis early in the course of infection relies on the detection of antibodies or of the bacterium in the blood, as is performed at the NRC for Anaplasma, part of the Clinical Laboratory of the Queen Astrid Military Hospital in Brussels, Belgium. In this article, we discuss diagnostic test results as well as recent clinical and demographic characteristics of patients whose samples were analyzed by the NRC for Anaplasma in a four-year period (2013-2016).

VL - 74 CP - 4 M3 - 10.1080/17843286.2018.1491928 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of pathogens in ticks collected from humans through citizen science in Belgium JF - Parasites & Vectors Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Nick De Regge A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Manoj Fonville A1 - Vanessa Suin A1 - Sprong, Hein VL - 12 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s13071-019-3806-z ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Seroprevalentie van tekenencefalitis. Studie bij boswerkers in Vlaanderen Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Joris Vandervelden A1 - Alessandra Roelandt A1 - Marjan Van Esbroeck ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la borréliose de Lyme - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Melissa Depypere A1 - Lagrou, Katrien A1 - Dieter Van Cauteren A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la leptospirose - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la psittacose - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Joanna Rybarczyk A1 - Daisy Van Rompay ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de l'anaplasmose - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Mony Hing ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de l'encéphalite à tiques - 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2018 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2019 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2018 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2019 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The value of seroprevalence data as surveillance tool for Lyme borreliosis in the general population: the experience of Belgium JF - BMC Public Health Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Benoît Kabamba-Mukadi A1 - Saegeman, Veroniek A1 - Marie Tré-Hardy A1 - Morgane de Laveleye A1 - Tommi Asikainen A1 - Ram Benny Dessau A1 - Sophie Quoilin A1 - Amber Litzroth VL - 19 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s12889-019-6914-y ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Samenvattend jaarverslag 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Katrien Tersago ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Synthèse annuelle 2018 Y1 - 2019 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Katrien Tersago ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van anaplasmose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Mony Hing ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van brucellose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marcella Mori ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van leptospirose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van Lyme borreliose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Melissa Depypere A1 - Sofie Patteet A1 - Lagrou, Katrien A1 - Dieter Van Cauteren A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van psittacose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Charlot Versteele A1 - Annelien Dumont A1 - Daisy Van Rompay ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Epidemiologische surveillance van tekenencefalitis - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Onderzoek naar ziektekiemen in teken - tekeninzameling 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Katrien Tersago ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Recherche de pathogènes présents chez les tiques - Collecte de tiques 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Katrien Tersago ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la brucellose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marcella Mori ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la leptospirose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la psittacose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Charlot Versteele A1 - Annelien Dumont A1 - Daisy Van Rompay ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de l'anaplasmose - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Mony Hing PB - Sciensano CY - Bruxelles, Belgique ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de l'encéphalite à tiques - 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2017 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2018 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout PB - Sciensano CY - Brussel, België ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2017 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2018 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Samenvattend jaarverslag 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Katrien Tersago ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Synthèse annuelle 2017 Y1 - 2018 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Katrien Tersago ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The HUMTICK study: protocol for a prospective cohort study on post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome and the disease and cost burden of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium. JF - Arch Public Health Y1 - 2017 A1 - Geebelen, Laurence A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît A1 - Saegeman, Veroniek A1 - Sprong, Hein A1 - Steven Van Gucht A1 - Beutels, Philippe A1 - Speybroeck, Niko A1 - Katrien Tersago AB -

BACKGROUND: In Belgium, different routine surveillance systems are in place to follow-up Lyme borreliosis trends. However, accurate data on the disease and monetary burden for the different clinical manifestations are lacking. Despite recommended antibiotic treatment, a proportion of Lyme patients report persisting aspecific symptoms for six months or more (e.g. fatigue, widespread musculoskeletal pain, cognitive difficulties), a syndrome now named "post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome" (PTLDS). Controversy exists on the cause, incidence and severity of PTLDS. This study aims to estimate the incidence of PTLDS in patients with Lyme borreliosis and to quantify the disease burden and economic costs associated with the different clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium.

METHODS: The project is a prospective cohort study in which about 600 patients with an erythema migrans and 100 patients with disseminated Lyme borreliosis will be followed up. Questionnaires, including the SF-36 vitality and pain subscale, the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire and the EQ-5D-5L, will be used to collect information on acute and persisting symptoms and the impact on quality of life. Symptom frequency and severity will be compared with self-reported pre-Lyme health status, a control group and existing Belgian population norms. Additionally, information on the associated costs and possible risk factors for the development of PTLDS will be collected.

DISCUSSION: A study of the health burden will allow evaluation of the relative importance of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium and information on the economic cost will help to formulate cost-effective measures. There are only few prospective studies conducted estimating the incidence of PTLDS and even though discussion exists about the prevalence of subjective symptoms in the general population, a control group of non-Lyme borreliosis participants has often not been included.

VL - 75 U1 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28794875?dopt=Abstract M3 - 10.1186/s13690-017-0202-z ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2016 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2017 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2016 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2017 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Jaarrapport 2015-2016 Y1 - 2017 A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Dominique Van Beckhoven A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Surveillance épidémiologique en Belgique, 2015-2016 Y1 - 2017 A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Dominique Van Beckhoven A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TekenNet 2015 - Surveillance van tekenbeten in België Y1 - 2016 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - TiquesNet 2015 - Surveillance des morsures de tiques en Belgique Y1 - 2016 A1 - Katrien Tersago A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Samenvattend jaaroverzicht 2015 Y1 - 2016 A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Dominique Van Beckhoven A1 - Bernard Brochier A1 - Delaere, B A1 - David Fretin A1 - Hing,M. A1 - Jacobs,J.A. A1 - B Kabamba Mukadi A1 - Marcella Mori A1 - Patteet,S. A1 - Saegeman,V. A1 - Vanessa Suin A1 - Truyens,C. A1 - Vanrompay, D A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan A1 - Steven Van Gucht A1 - P Wattiau KW - 2015 KW - Surveillance KW - vectoroverdraagbare ziekten KW - zoonosen PB - WIV-ISP CY - Brussel, België ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Surveillance épidémiologique en Belgique - Synthèse annuelle 2015 Y1 - 2016 A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Dominique Van Beckhoven A1 - Bernard Brochier A1 - Delaere,B. A1 - David Fretin A1 - Hing,M. A1 - B Kabamba Mukadi A1 - Marcella Mori A1 - Patteet,S. A1 - Saegeman,V. A1 - Vanessa Suin A1 - Truyens,C. A1 - Vanrompay, D A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan A1 - Steven Van Gucht A1 - P Wattiau KW - 2015 KW - Belgique KW - maladies à transmission vectorielle KW - Surveillance KW - Zoonoses PB - WIV-ISP CY - Bruxelles, Belgique ER - TY - Generic T1 - Accelerated development of vaccine benefit-risk collaboration in Europe Y1 - 2015 A1 - Lieke Maria van der Aa A1 - Patrick Mahy A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Geneviève Waeterloos KW - Development KW - Europe KW - meeting KW - vaccine JF - Annual OMCL meeting PB - NA CY - NA CP - EDQM U1 - 5248 U2 - 1-5/06/2015 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Epidemiological situation of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium, 2003 to 2012. JF - Arch Public Health Y1 - 2015 A1 - Corinne Bleyenheuft A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Nicolas Berger A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Mathias Leroy A1 - Robert, Annie A1 - Sophie Quoilin AB -

BACKGROUND: Some studies show that the incidence of Lyme borreliosis is increasing in different European countries. In order to evaluate if this is also the case in Belgium, different data sources were consulted to describe the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis in the country during the last decade.

METHODS: Data from two databases were analyzed for the time period 2003-2010 and 2003-2012 for respectively: the registration of minimal clinical data from Belgian hospitals (principal and secondary diagnosis), and a sentinel laboratory network reporting positive laboratory results.

RESULTS: The number of hospitalized cases per year remained stable between 2003 and 2010, ranging from 970 (in 2008) to 1453 (in 2006), with a median of 1132.5 cases per year. Between 2003 and 2012, yearly fluctuations in the number of positive tests were reported by the sentinel laboratory network (with a minimum of 996 positive tests in 2007 and a maximum of 1651 positive tests in 2005), but there is no increasing trend over the study period (median = 1200.5 positive tests per year). The highest incidence rates of hospitalization and the highest reported incidence of positive laboratory results are registered in the provinces of Luxemburg, Limburg, Flemish Brabant and Antwerp, with a typical seasonal pattern (peak in September). The age groups affected most are those from 5 to 14 years and 45 to 69.

CONCLUSION: Based on hospital records and laboratory results, no increasing trend in Lyme disease was observed over the 2003-2012 period in Belgium. These results are in line with the stable incidence of erythema migrans reported by a sentinel network of general practitionners between 2003 and 2009. Multi-source surveillance of vector-borne diseases should be further implemented.

VL - 73 CP - 1 M3 - 10.1186/s13690-015-0079-7 ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoönosen en Vector-Overdraagbare Ziekten. Epidemiologische surveillance in België, 2013 en 2014 Y1 - 2015 A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Dominique Van Beckhoven A1 - Bernard Brochier A1 - Delaere,B. A1 - David Fretin A1 - Heuninckx,W. A1 - Hing,M. A1 - Jacobs, J. A1 - B Kabamba Mukadi A1 - Maes,P. A1 - Marcella Mori A1 - Patteet,S. A1 - Sophie Quoilin A1 - Saegeman,V. A1 - Vanessa Suin A1 - Truyens,C. A1 - Vanrompay, D A1 - M. Van Esbroeck A1 - Steven Van Gucht A1 - P Wattiau KW - 2013 KW - 2014 KW - jaarrapport KW - overdraagbare ziekten KW - Vector KW - zoonosen PB - WIV-ISP CY - Brussel, België ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle. Surveillance épidémiologique en Belgique, 2013 et 2014 Y1 - 2015 A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Dominique Van Beckhoven A1 - Bernard Brochier A1 - Delaere,B. A1 - David Fretin A1 - Heuninckx,W. A1 - Hing,M. A1 - Jacobs,J.A. A1 - B Kabamba Mukadi A1 - Maes,P. A1 - Marcella Mori A1 - Patteet,S. A1 - Sophie Quoilin A1 - Saegeman,V. A1 - Vanessa Suin A1 - Truyens,C. A1 - Vanrompay, D A1 - Van Esbroeck, Marjan A1 - Steven Van Gucht A1 - P Wattiau KW - 2013 KW - 2014 KW - maladies à transmission vectorielle KW - Surveillance KW - Zoonoses PB - WIV-ISP CY - Bruxelles, Belgique ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Impact of conjugate 7-valent vaccination in Belgium: addressing methodological challenges. JF - Vaccine Y1 - 2011 A1 - Hanquet, Germaine A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Vergison, Anne A1 - Verhaegen, Jan A1 - Kissling, Esther A1 - Tuerlinckx, David A1 - Malfroot, Anne A1 - Swennen, Béatrice A1 - Martine Sabbe KW - Belgium KW - Child, Preschool KW - Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine KW - Humans KW - Immunization Schedule KW - incidence KW - Pneumococcal Infections KW - Pneumococcal Vaccines KW - Population Surveillance KW - Streptococcus pneumoniae KW - Vaccination KW - Vaccines, Conjugate AB -

In Belgium, the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced into the national schedule in 2007. The early impact of PCV7 vaccination on paediatric invasive disease was estimated by comparing pre- and post-vaccination incidence from national surveillance. In children <2 year-olds, vaccine-serotype incidence declined by 96% but non-vaccine-types increased 2-3-fold. Overall invasive disease decreased by 23-46%, depending on adjustment for under-reporting and pre-vaccine trends. Non-vaccine-types 1 and 19A had increased before PCV7 use, suggesting the contribution of other factors. Estimation of PCV7 impact comparing pre- and post-vaccination data should adjust for pre-vaccine trends, and serotype dynamics need further exploration.

VL - 29 CP - 16 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21342667?dopt=Abstract M3 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.02.016 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Oral fluid for the serological and molecular diagnosis of measles. JF - Int J Infect Dis Y1 - 2010 A1 - Veronik Hutse A1 - Van Hecke, K A1 - De Bruyn, R A1 - Samu, O A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Muyembe, J J A1 - Bernard Brochier KW - ADOLESCENT KW - Adult KW - Antibodies, Viral KW - Body Fluids KW - Child KW - Child, Preschool KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Immunoglobulin M KW - Infant KW - Male KW - Measles KW - Measles virus KW - middle aged KW - Molecular Diagnostic Techniques KW - Nasopharynx KW - Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction KW - RNA, Viral KW - Saliva KW - Sensitivity and Specificity KW - serum KW - Young adult AB -

OBJECTIVES: Since measles presents mostly in children, a non-invasive sample collection technique such as oral fluid sampling would be very useful in the early detection of measles RNA and antibodies. The aim of this study was to validate the detection of anti-measles IgM and measles virus RNA in oral fluid and to make a comparison with the gold standard methods of ELISA using serum (Enzygnost(®) anti-Measles IgM) and in-house nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using nasopharyngeal secretions.

METHODS: Three samples each from 73 measles-positive and 44 measles-negative subjects (serum, oral fluid, and nasopharyngeal secretions) were analyzed.

RESULTS: The anti-measles IgM ELISA (MicroImmune) on oral fluid was validated against the IgM ELISA (Siemens) for serum and this resulted in a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 100%. A molecular nested RT-PCR using oral fluid was validated against the standard assay on nasopharyngeal secretions and gave a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that both serological and molecular oral fluid assays are suitable for routine use. The use of oral fluid samples for the detection of measles virus may encourage patients, general practitioners, and pediatricians to participate in the Belgian measles surveillance system and other epidemiological studies in the framework of the World Health Organization elimination program.

VL - 14 CP - 11 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20851015?dopt=Abstract M3 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2010.06.009 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Pneumococcal serotypes in children in 4 European countries. JF - Emerg Infect Dis Y1 - 2010 A1 - Hanquet, Germaine A1 - Kissling, Esther A1 - Fenoll, Asuncion A1 - George, Robert A1 - Lepoutre, Agnes A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Tarragó, David A1 - Varon, Emmanuelle A1 - Verhaegen, Jan KW - ADOLESCENT KW - Belgium KW - Child KW - Child, Preschool KW - Female KW - France KW - Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine KW - Humans KW - incidence KW - Infant KW - Infant, Newborn KW - Male KW - Meningitis, Pneumococcal KW - Pneumococcal Infections KW - Pneumococcal Vaccines KW - Prospective Studies KW - Serotyping KW - Spain KW - Streptococcus pneumoniae KW - Time Factors KW - United Kingdom AB -

After heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was marketed in France, Spain, Belgium, and England and Wales (United Kingdom), invasive disease from non-PCV7 serotypes (NVT) increased. Adjusted serotype-specific incidences among children <15 years of age were compared between 1999-2002 (prevaccine) and 2005-2006 (postmarketing). Vaccine coverage increased to approximately 32%-48% in France, Spain, and Belgium but remained <1% in England and Wales. Serotype 1 incidence rose in all age groups and countries (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.3-4.2; p<0.004), independently of PCV7 use, but incidence of serotypes 7F and 19A increased most in France, Spain, and Belgium (IRR 1.9-16.9 in children <5 years; p<0.001), where PCV7 coverage was greater. Vaccine-induced replacement of PCV7 serotypes possibly contributed to NVT increases, as did secular trends. New vaccines targeting these serotypes are available, but serotype dynamics needs further exploration that accounts for underreporting and prevaccine trends.

VL - 16 CP - 9 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20735928?dopt=Abstract M3 - 10.3201/eid1609.100102 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - An outbreak of measles in orthodox Jewish communities in Antwerp, Belgium, 2007-2008: different reasons for accumulation of susceptibles. JF - Euro Surveill Y1 - 2009 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Kissling, E A1 - Veronik Hutse A1 - De Schrijver, K A1 - Top, G KW - Belgium KW - Disease Outbreaks KW - Disease Susceptibility KW - Humans KW - incidence KW - Jews KW - Measles KW - Measles Vaccine KW - Population Surveillance KW - Risk Assessment KW - Risk Factors KW - Vaccination AB -

From August 2007 to May 2008, an outbreak of at least 137 cases of measles occurred in some orthodox Jewish communities in Antwerp, Belgium. The outbreak was linked to outbreaks in the same communities in the United Kingdom and in Israel. The reasons for this outbreak were diverse: cultural factors, misinformation on vaccination by some medical doctors and the lack of a catch-up vaccination programme in private Jewish schools. The identification of smaller susceptible groups for measles transmission and vaccination of these groups represent a major challenge for the measles elimination programme.

VL - 14 CP - 2 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19161716?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Clusters of measles cases in Jewish orthodox communities in Antwerp, epidemiologically linked to the United Kingdom: a preliminary report. JF - Euro Surveill Y1 - 2007 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Kissling, E A1 - Veronik Hutse A1 - Top, G KW - ADOLESCENT KW - Adult KW - Child KW - Child, Preschool KW - Cluster Analysis KW - Disease Outbreaks KW - Female KW - Humans KW - incidence KW - Infant KW - Infant, Newborn KW - Jews KW - Male KW - Measles KW - Netherlands KW - Population Surveillance KW - Risk Assessment KW - Risk Factors KW - Travel KW - United Kingdom VL - 12 CP - 11 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18005643?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Infectieziekten bij kinderen die voorkomen kunnen worden door vaccinatie. Samenvattend jaarverslag 2017. Y1 - 0 A1 - Chloé Wyndham-Thomas A1 - Tine Grammens A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - V Sizaire A1 - N Boon A1 - Gaetan Muyldermans A1 - Tinne Lernout ER - TY - RPRT T1 - ​Informatie en richtlijn voor zorgverleners​​​​​​ Y1 - 0 ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Informations et recommandations de prise en charge​​​​ Y1 - 0 A1 - Sciensano ER - TY - Generic T1 - Knowledge, perceptions and practices related to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses: survey in Belgium, 2022 Y1 - 0 A1 - Valeska Laisnez A1 - Marie Hermy A1 - Ruben Brondeel A1 - Ayat Abourashed A1 - Pauline de Best A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Javiera Rebolledo ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la borréliose de Lyme - 2017 Y1 - 0 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Melissa Depypere A1 - Sofie Patteet A1 - Lagrou, Katrien A1 - Dieter Van Cauteren A1 - Kabamba-Mukadi, Benoît ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Surveillance épidémiologique de la brucellose - 2018 Y1 - 0 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Marcella Mori ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Zoönosen en vectoroverdraagbare ziekten. Samenvattend jaaroverzicht 2017 Y1 - 0 A1 - Tinne Lernout A1 - Amber Litzroth A1 - Javiera Rebolledo A1 - Katrien Tersago ER -