[Meningitis after travel in the Mediterranean region, caused by the sandfly fever virus].

Sandfly fever virus is the causative agent of sandfly fever (pappataci fever). The virus is endemic in the Mediterranean region and is transmitted by bites of Phlebotomus species. The three sandfly fever virus serotypes, Sicilian (SFS), Naples (SFN) and Toscana (TOS), are of travel-related significance. In addition to a flu-like illness, the sandfly fever virus may result in a serious neurological disease with meningitis and encephalitis. Due to the high number of travelers may occur in nonimmune persons. Since many clinicians are not aware of this disease, sandfly fever is still rarely diagnosed.