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Greece: West Nile Virus kills 15, infects 173
Posted by keeptalkinggreece in environment, Society
West Nile Virus has killed 15 people and infected 173, Greece’s health authorities said on their latest report.
The Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) said Friday that 15 people died and that 173 people became ill after bitten by West Nile Virus transmitting mosquitoes. The Centre said further that 116 cases had been discharged form hospitals and 39 were still hospitalized, of who 9 in an Intensive Care Unit.
The last fatality was an elederly patient with other serious health problems.
The majority of the cases are recorded in Central Macedonia, Northern Greece, while the last infection occurred yesterday in Lamia, Central Greece. First infection appeared early August.
The majority of the infected are older people, over 65, while the majority of the dead were more than 75 years old and had suffered already from other health problems.
Symptoms are often similar to those of flue, but the more severe form of the WNV infection can cause death. Severe symptoms of the disease are encephalitis (acute inflammatory infection of the brain) and meningitis ( inflammation of the protective membranes of the brain and the spinal cord).
Quoting scientists Greek media report that 1 out of 150 people bitten by WNV transmitting mosquitoes show symptoms of the disease. Scientists estimate that due to high temperatures. there will be 5-10 new cases of infections every day until the end of September.
Meanwhile, Romania reported its first cases of West Nile Virus (two dead, five infected) and Hungary its two first infections of humans.
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