One elderly woman from Argolida in Eastern Peloponnese died from West Nile virus infection on Wednesday. She is the first victim this year of the disease that is transited through the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus.
The 90-year-old woman was infected with the West Nile virus, got encephalitis and died.
Two more people are hospitalized, one of them in Intensive Care Unit with encephalitis.
The woman’s death comes three weeks after the West Nile virus infection broke out in Argolis after a two-year pause.
On Thursday, another elderly woman died on the West Nile disease.
The outbreak area remains active, Nafplion, Argos and Mykene are the areas where new patients are constantly recorded.
Experts from the Greek Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) point out that more infections are expected in the areas above, while they do not exclude West Nile virus infections also in other geographic areas.
However, they emphasize that health authorities are on alert and the awareness of health professionals ensures early diagnosis and therefore the treatment of serious cases.
According to KEELPNO data, by 2. August 2017, 12 people in total have been diagnosed with West Nile virus inflection this year.
There was no infelction in 2015 and 2016.
79 people died between 2010 and 2014 from the disease that infected more 623 people in total.
West Nile virus can cause a fatal neurological disease in humans. However, approximately 80% of people who are infected will not show any symptoms. West Nile virus is mainly transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. via WHO
If you are lucky the symptoms are similar to flu with headaches, aching limbs and fever.
If you are unlucky the Mosquito bite can cause encephalitis and meningitis.
If you are very unlucky, you are old and have already other health problems, better have your family rush you to the nearest hospital.
At high risk are people with advanced age, organ transplantation and diabetes.
People in the infected areas were advised to use insect repellents or creams, wear long trousers and sleeves in light-colors and stay indoors at dawn and dusk.
