To the Editor: Sandfly feverNaples virus, Sandfly fever Sicilianvirus, and Toscana virus (familyBunyaviridae, genus Phlebovirus)have been recognized as etiologicagents of human illnesses in Europeancountries bordering the Mediterra-nean Sea. These viruses are responsi-ble for rapidly resolving diseases withnonspecific symptoms such as feverand myalgia. However, infection withToscana virus may involve the centralnervous system; severity may rangefrom aseptic meningitis to menin-goencephalitis (1). In most cases, ill-nesses caused by Toscana virusmimics a flulike syndrome with fever,photophobia, headache, red eyes, andstiff neck. Recently, 2 cases ofToscana virus meningoencephalitis inpatients with unusual symptoms andlife-threatening complications weredescribed in Italy (2). However,sequelae have never been reported.Toscana virus infection is now epi-demic in Italy and Spain (1,3).Furthermore, sporadic cases havebeen reported in travelers returningfrom Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal,and the South of France (4–6). Theepidemiology of Toscana virus inFrance is still unknown. Althoughinfections with this virus have beendiagnosed by serologic tests in Frenchpatients and in tourists residing insoutheastern France, this pathogenhas reportedly never been isolated inFrance (7,8). Here we describe theclinical and biologic features ofautochthonous meningitis due toToscana virus
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