Holidaymakers going to Greece have been warned about a deadly outbreak of a disease which has left 12 people dead. According to reports, a total of 12 patients infected with the West Nile Virus have died in Greece.
Website Keep Talking Greece said that the deaths had taken place before August 21 this year. According to National Public Health Organization EODY, the deceased were between the ages of 61 and 92.
In the last seven days, two deaths were recorded and 24 new cases were diagnosed. The virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitos. In the outbreak, a total of 100 cases have been found in Greece.
This year and until August 21, cases of West Nile virus infection have been recorded in Greece, in areas in the Regional Units of Larissa, Karditsa, Lefkada, Halkidiki, Pella, Serres, Kilkis, Imathia, Achaia, Thesprotia, south sector of Athens , Argolida, Rodopi, Drama, Evros, Xanthi, Fthiotida and in the metropolitan unit of Thessaloniki.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has expressed concern at the outbreak, saying Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, France, Italy, Greece and Spain have reported cases. Israel has recorded 870 confirmed cases and 62 deaths as of August 22.
According to the Foreign Office Travel Health Pro website, most people who become infected with WNV do not have symptoms. Approximately 20 percent develop symptoms that may include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, and skin rash.
One in every 150 cases progresses to a more serious neurological illness of meningitis, encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain, or acute flaccid paralysis. Those with neurologic disease may experience high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, flaccid paralysis and coma.
In these situations, the case fatality can be up to 17%. Risk factors for severe illness include advancing age, underlying illnesses such as cancer, hypertension, kidney disease and genetic factors.