Athens Times

West Nile virus: 12 cases and 3 deaths in the last week

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Twelve new cases of him and 3 patient deaths were recorded last week in our country, according to his epidemiological report. Four imported cases of the West Nile virus have also been recorded in patients exposed to other countries abroad (three in Albania and one in Austria), which are not included in the new EOMI report. From the beginning of 2024 to 25 September, a total of 192 domestic cases of infection with the West Nile virus have been diagnosed and investigated in Greece, of which 143 cases have had events from the Central Nervous System (CNS, encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute loose paralysis) and 49 cases have had mild manifestations/ had no CNS events. A total of 30 deaths have been recorded in patients with virus infection, over 60 years of age (median age of deaths: 81 years, range: 61 – 93 years). An additional death of a patient diagnosed with Western Nile virus was attributed to another serious health problem (not included in the total number of deaths). Infections by the West Nile virus in Greece, have been recorded in settlements, in 67 municipalities of the country, in 29 Regional Units, and in particular in the Regional Units : Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala, Lefkada, Thesprotia, Preveza, Halkidiki, Pellas, Pieria, Serres, Kilkis, Imathia, Rodopi, Drama, Evros, Xanthi, Kavala, Thassos, Achaia, Aetoloakarnania, Ilia, Argolid, Arcadia, South Section of Athens, Eastern Attica, Fthiotida, Vootia and Metropolitan Unity of Thessaloniki. The EGTC considers it possible and expected to diagnose further cases in the coming period and in this context it is necessary to implement in time appropriate integrated mosquito control programmes and to take measures to protect individuals against mosquitoes. In the European Union and in neighbouring countries, during the period 2024, cases of infection by the IMO virus have been recorded in: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.