More than 70 reported deaths Lethal West Nile virus continues to spread in Europe

First West Nile virus infection detected in a bird in Germany

Almost 800 cases of West Nile fever in humans have been reported in the European Union this year. More than 70 patients died. In Germany, the deadly virus was first detected in a bird.

More than 70 deaths

Recently, a physician warned against increased spread of serious infectious diseases as a result of global warming. One of these diseases is West Nile fever. This has been spreading in Europe for some time. Health authorities have already registered around 800 cases of illness among people in the EU this year. Over 70 deaths were reported. In Germany, a West Nile virus infection was first detected in a bird.

The West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. The infection has already claimed around 800 lives in Europe this year. (Image: corlaffra / fotolia.com)

Almost 800 reported illnesses

When the World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a list of diseases and pathogens that "pose a risk to public health and for which there are no or inadequate countermeasures", they also referred to diseases on their web site that " as before pose major public health problems "and require further research.

One of these diseases is West Nile fever, caused by the West Nile virus. This pathogen is spreading more and more in Europe.

As the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports on its website, nearly 800 cases of West Nile fever in humans have been reported in the European Union this year.

The ECDC lists the 798 cases reported by 6 September 2018: Italy (327), Greece (168), Romania (117), Hungary (134), Croatia (25), France (16), Austria (10) and Slovenia (1).

EU neighboring countries reported 314 cases: Serbia (262), Israel (49) and Kosovo (3).

So far, 71 deaths from West Nile fever have been reported by Serbia (26), Greece (18), Italy (13), Romania (12), Hungary (1) and Kosovo (1).

Pathogen first detected in a bird in Germany

In this country so far no infection has been registered here in humans.

However, only recently was a West Nile virus infection detected in a bird in Germany, reports the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI).

The pathogen was therefore discovered by a bearded owl who had been found dead in Halle (Saale) in mid-August.

The West Nile Virus (WNV) "is transmitted by blood-sucking mosquitoes and circulates in nature in a bird-mosquito-bird cycle. In birds, infection with WNV remains symptomless in most cases, "writes the FLI.

"WNV can be transmitted via mosquito bites to humans and horses and is therefore one of the zoonotic pathogens," explain the experts.

In humans, an infection is often asymptomatic

According to the FLI, infection with the West Nile virus in humans is "asymptomatic" in the vast majority of cases (about 80 percent) ".

In most other cases, therefore, usually only mild symptoms of illness appear as fever and flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, vomiting, headache and muscle pain.

"In less than one percent of infections, however, there is a severe, high-febrile disease course with meningitis or encephalitis, which can lead to permanent neurological damage and in rare cases ends fatally," writes the FLI.

Protect from mosquitoes

The best prevention of the disease is preventive mosquito repellent.

In addition to special mosquito sprays, there are numerous other ways to distribute the annoying pest spirits with natural home remedies.

So you can at home or in the tent insects by mosquito nets keep away and protect yourself in the open by bright, skin-covering clothing from stings.

According to various studies, the bloodsuckers are attracted by bad smell, like sweat or smelly socks. This should therefore be avoided.

The home remedies for mosquitoes include odors such as garlic or cabbage. (Ad)