In Noord-Holland-North, a great blue heron tested positive for West Nile virus. The virus is rare in the Netherlands. As the virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and the mosquito season when mosquitoes bite is almost over, there will probably be no more spread of the virus now.
The great blue heron was caught in a duck bait in mid-September. Erasmus Medical Center conducted research on avian flu here. In the vicinity of the positive heron, it is now investigating whether more birds have been infected with the West Nile virus. The Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Authority (NVWA) is also conducting research on wintering mosquitoes in the area.
The virus occurs in birds and is transmitted by mosquitoes that feed on the blood of infected birds. These mosquitoes spread the virus to other birds and sometimes to humans and mammals, such as horses. Over the past few decades, the virus has spread to much of the world, including southeastern and central Europe and Germany. In the Netherlands, West Nile virus was first found in 2020 in a canary, and the infection was subsequently detected in mosquitoes and 8 people that year.
Most of the time, people don’t get sick from the West Nile virus. About 80% do not complain at all and 20% experience mild symptoms such as fever and flu-like ailments. About 1% will develop a serious illness, such as encephalitis or meningitis.
RIVM, NVWA and other parties are working closely to monitor the spread of the West Nile virus. In order to identify the virus early, RIVM and NVWA are conducting research on mosquitoes, among other things, and monitoring changes there. Erasmus MC leads a national research consortium that tracks the risk of outbreaks. RIVM and NVWA inform the public.
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