Greek health authorities expressed concern once again on Thursday about the spread of the West Nile Virus across the nation, as four people lost their lives and 47 new cases were reported in one week.
The total number of deaths this year in Greece has risen to ten so far, with most cases appearing in the areas of Xanthi, Kavala and Larissa. All of the victims were 60 years of age or older.
A total of 96 cases of the West Nile virus have been diagnosed in Greece since the monitoring the annually-recurring virus began in early May.
Of these patients, 59 experienced problems within their central nervous system, including encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute lax paralysis. Thirty-seven other victims of the virus had only mild manifestations, including febrile illness, or no symptoms whatsoever.
This data comes from the latest epidemiological report of the National Public Health Organization (EODY, formerly KEELPNO), issued on Thursday. At the time of the issuance of the report, fifteen patients across Greece are hospitalized, five of whom are in intensive care units.
“It is considered likely and expected that further outbreaks will occur in the coming period (according to health professionals) and outbreaks in other geographical areas are also considered likely,” the EODY notes in its report.
In addition to Greece, outbreaks of the West Nile virus have also been recorded this year in the nations of Hungary, Romania, France, Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Serbia.
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