Greece reports 157 West Nile cases this season, 13 deaths

Greece has recorded 157 domestic cases of West Nile virus this season and 13 deaths, health authorities say, after 47 new infections and four fatalities were added in the last week.

Concentrated outbreak in Attica; targeted mosquito control stepped up

According to the National Public Health Organization (EODY), the 13 fatalities were all over 65 years old, with an average age of 82 (range 66–91). Of the 157 infected, 116 developed symptoms affecting the central nervous system — described as encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute paralysis — while 41 cases experienced mild symptoms or no central nervous system involvement.

Clinical data show that 42 patients were hospitalized, 92 have been discharged from hospital, and in 10 cases no medical treatment was required.

EODY cites an epidemiological study carried out in 2010 that indicated roughly 140 infections with mild or no symptoms for every single infection that affects the central nervous system.

Geographically, 104 of the cases have been recorded in the Attica area, the wider Athens region. The remaining 46 are located in Thessaly, northern Greece and the Peloponnese, while seven cases remain under epidemiological investigation.

Because of the rise in cases in Attica, regional authorities announced last week that they have begun additional mosquito-spraying operations and will increase their targeted activities by 30 percent; these measures started last Thursday and are expected to be completed tomorrow. The first case for this season was registered at the beginning of July.

West Nile virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, has been present in Greece during the summer periods from 2010 to 2014 and from 2017 to the present. The largest outbreak occurred in 2018 with 317 cases and 51 deaths. Last year there were 96 reported cases and nine deaths from West Nile virus in Greece.

Photo: press material from the event