Usutu Virus in Bats, Germany, 2013

To the Editor: Usutu virus (USUV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus that belongs to the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex (1). USUV circulates between ornithophilic mosquito vectors (mainly Culex spp. mosquitoes) and avian amplification hosts (2). Migratory birds play a key role in the introduction of USUV into new areas (3). USUV has recently been introduced from Africa into Europe, causing epizootics among wild birds and Usutu fever in humans...