A total of 180 cases of West Nile Virus infection have been diagnosed and investigated and 24 people have died due to the mosquito-born disease in Greece in 2024, up until September 18, according to an epidemiological report released on Thursday by Greece’s National Public Health Organisation (EODY).
West Nile virus is a disease infected mosquitos transfer to humans through bites.
Of the 180 cases, 132 cases presented with symptoms involving the central nervous system (encephalitis, meningitis and/or acute muscle weakness and paralysis, among others), 48 cases presented with mild or no symptoms and 27 of the patients died.
According to the report, there were 18 new domestic cases reported in the past week and four cases where patients contracted the virus while abroad (three in Albania and one in Austria), which were not included in the above analysis.
For two more cases with a complex travel history, an investigation on whether they are imported or domestic cases has yet to be concluded and they have also been excluded from analysis.
There have also been two deaths from West Nile Virus in the last week, raising the total this year to 27, while a third death in a West Nile Virus patient was attributed to another serious health problem and excluded from the death toll.
Cases of the virus have been recorded in settlements in 63 municipalities and 29 regional units in Greece. These are Larisa, Karditsa, Trikala, Lefkada, Thesprotia, Preveza, Halkidiki, Pella, Pieria, Serres, Kilkis, Imathia, Rodopi, Drama, Evros, Xanthi, Kavala, Thassos, Achaia, Aitoloakarnania, Ilia, Argolida, Arcadia, South Sector of Athens, Central Sector of Athens, Eastern Attica, Fthiotida, Viotia and the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area.
Cases have also been reported in the European Union and adjacent countries, namely in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkiye.
Monitoring the disease and promptly taking measures to control mosquito populations, as well as taking personal protection measures against mosquitos, are the recommended means of controlling the disease, EODY said.
