Four deaths and 47 new cases of infection with the West Nile virus have been recorded in the last week, thus increasing the total number of deaths to 10 and of infections to 96.
According to the weekly epidemiological surveillance report of the West Nile Virus issued by the Greek Health Authority EODY,96 infections have been recorded from beginning of 2019 until August 22.
59 infected patients had Central Nervous System symptoms like encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute lax paralysis. 37 patients had mild symptoms.
Ten deaths have been recorded in patients infected with the virus. They were over 60 years old.
The infection cases have been recorded in settlements in the Regional Units of Xanthi, Kavala, Rodopi, Evros, Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala, East Attica, Pella, Pieria, Imathia, Serres, Halkidiki and Thessaloniki.
The Greek National Public Health Organization (EODY) recommends individual mosquito protection measures throughout the country and stresses the need for health professionals, local and national authorities to be on alert.
“It is considered likely and expected that further outbreaks will occur in the coming period (and in view of the awareness of health professionals) and outbreaks in other geographical areas are also considered likely,” EODY notes.
Epidemiological surveillance of the disease, timely implementation of appropriate integrated mosquito control programs and individual mosquito protection measures are the most appropriate measures to control the disease, EODY said.
Except in Greece, outbreaks of West Nile virus infections have been recorded also in Hungary, Romania, France, Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Serbia.
