The West Nile virus has claimed three deaths out of the 16 people confirmed to have been affected in nothern Greece.
“At the moment, 16 cases, most of which involve elderly people, of the West Nile virus have been confirmed by lab tests,” professor Anna Papa of Aristotle University in Thessaloniki told Kathimerini. According to report, a total of 23 people have been admitted to hospitals until now; all of them suffering brain inflammation and a form of meningitis. Of those, 16 have been confirmed as carriers of the West Nile virus.
The West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus of the family Flaviviridae, found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, and domestic rabbits. The main route of human infection is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Approximately 90% of West Nile Virus infections in humans are without any symptoms.
“There is no reason to panic,” said Papa. “The virus usually causes a slight illness and, in many cases, people do not even realise that they are ill.” According to Papa, the elderly suffer worse symptoms because the virus usually affects their central nervous system.
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