The spread of West Nile fever continues in North Macedonia, while figures reported by European countries show a significant increase in cases. A total of 53 cases have been recorded in Macedonia, 50 of which have been confirmed through laboratory tests, while three remain suspected. So far, six people have died.
Të lidhura
None found
Eighteen patients are receiving treatment at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases. Meanwhile, authorities have confirmed the presence of the virus in a dead crow found in Resen.
The death toll rose following the death of a 72-year-old man from Skopje. The patient had been hospitalized for 15 days, in serious clinical condition and with severe underlying illnesses. As a result, the number of victims of West Nile fever in the country rose to six.
Fadil Cana, director of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, announced that 51 patients have been hospitalized so far. Of these, 27 have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Of the 18 people who continue to receive treatment at the clinic, 15 have tested positive for the neuroinvasive form of the infection, while five are in intensive care due to their serious condition.
A day earlier, the Ministry of Health reported that 53 people had been hospitalized with West Nile fever or under suspicion of having contracted it. Of this number, 50 cases were confirmed and three were classified as suspected.
The case recorded in Resen is the second confirmation of the virus in birds in Macedonia. The dead crow was found in a park, while earlier the virus had been detected in another dead crow in Skopje.
Monitoring birds is important for tracking the circulation of the virus, as they are part of its natural cycle. Mosquitoes transmit the virus from one animal to another and, in certain cases, to humans as well.
The latest national data also point to an increase in cases in Europe. Greece has reported 232 infected people and 19 deaths, while 432 cases have been confirmed in Italy and 17 people have died.
The ECDC’s official weekly report for Europe, compiled using data up to August 21, included 37 locally acquired cases in Macedonia. This explains why the figure 37 continues to appear in European tables, even though local health authorities have already announced 53 cases.
According to the same report, a total of 625 locally acquired cases were recorded in 12 European countries: 311 in Italy, 157 in Greece, 63 in Spain, 37 in Macedonia, 28 in Romania, 17 in France, 6 in Serbia and 2 in the Netherlands. Albania, Austria, Germany and Kosovo had each reported one case. However, this figure no longer fully reflects the current situation, as subsequent national reports have recorded a considerable increase.
