Flaviviruses

The National Public Health Organization (EODY) recorded three more deaths from West Nile virus between September 18 and 25, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 30.

All the deceased patients were over 60 years old, with the median age being 81 years.

During the past week, 12 new domestic cases of West Nile virus and 3 deaths were diagnosed/reported, according to the epidemiological report of the EODY.

A total of 27 deaths and 180 cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection have been diagnosed and investigated in Greece up until September 18, according to an epidemiological report released on Thursday by Greece's National Public Health Organization (EODY).

According to the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY), eight more deaths from the West Nile virus occurred between September 4 and 11, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 25.

All the patients who died were over 60 years old, with the median age of the deceased being 80 years.

A fourth case of West Nile fever has been confirmed in Bulgaria, with the latest diagnosis reported in a patient from Sofia, according to Prof. Iva Hristova, director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCCPD). This follows the deaths of two patients due to complications from the illness and the ongoing treatment of a man in Haskovo.

Iva Hristova, the director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, reassured that there is no danger of a West Nile fever epidemic in the country. Speaking on BNT, she emphasized that the infection is transmitted by a specific type of mosquito, which is common in Bulgaria.

The Ministry of Health has reported that two of the three individuals infected with West Nile fever in Bulgaria have died. The disease, transmitted through infected mosquitoes, has raised significant concern following these cases.

With 100 instances of West Nile virus infections confirmed in nine regions of the country and two additional deaths within a week, the virus transmitted by common mosquitoes poses a significant threat, with experts appealing to the public to take necessary precautions.

Six cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Türkiye this year, the Health Ministry has announced, issuing a warning.

"Since 2010, West Nile virus infections have been observed in our country, and in 2024, it has been detected in six individuals. The monitoring and treatment of our patients are ongoing," the ministry said in a written statement on Aug. 22.

According to the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY), 21 new cases of West Nile virus were reported, along with two deaths, during the week of August 7-14.

This brings the total number of cases diagnosed in Greece in 2024 to 76. Additionally, the total number of recorded deaths has risen to 10.