The medical community is on high alert as West Nile virus continues to increase in cases and deaths. Doctors ask for the attention of citizens to protect themselves from infected mosquitoes. Two deaths and 22 cases occurred in the first week of August, according to the latest data.
As announced by the National Public Health Organization (EODY), in the first week of August, 22 new cases were registered, and two more patients lost the battle to stay alive. The total number of people who fell ill from the beginning of July to August 7, 2024 reached 55, of which 8 have died.
According to his data, of the 55 domestic cases of the disease caused by the West Nile virus, 42 were serious, because the virus attacked the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord).
What caused it:
– encephalitis and / or
– meningitis and/or
– Acute flaccid paralysis
The remaining 13 cases were mild. The youngest of the patients with CNS symptoms was 36 years old. The oldest was 92 years old. The EODY emphasizes that for every case of CNS attack, there are approximately 140 other patients who are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms and therefore are not reported.
Of the 55 patients bitten by mosquitoes in Greece, the majority (49) required hospitalisation. 30 have been released, and 11 are still in hospital.
Of the 55 domestic cases, 17 occurred in the last week of July. Almost all patients (32 of 33) required hospitalization. Of these, 18 were released. Eight others are still in hospital, five of whom are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The other eight patients died, as mentioned above. They were all old people (between 68 and 92).
It is noted that no other case has been recorded in Epirus. It is still the one identified in the previous period in the area of the Municipality of Igoumenitsa.
