Greece Faces Rising Number of West Nile Virus Cases, with 157 Infected and 13 Dead

With 157 confirmed cases and 13 people dead as of yesterday, Greece ranks second in Europe after Italy for the spread of West Nile virus. The number of people affected continues to rise rapidly.

Over the past seven days, authorities have reported 47 new infections and 4 deaths. Attica, particularly its eastern region, remains the main hotspot this summer, prompting an increase in mosquito-spraying operations.

A high number of cases has been recorded in Markopoulo and Spata. Meanwhile, new cases have also been detected in other municipalities of Attica, as well as in northern Greece.

Data from the National Public Health Organization show that 42 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals. Of these, 23 are in intensive care or high-dependency units.

People become infected through mosquitoes, which acquire the virus after biting infected birds. According to epidemiologists, most infected people will not realize that they have had the disease, while around one in 150 affected people may develop serious neurological complications.

High fever, severe headache, drowsiness, seizures and paralysis are signs that require immediate medical attention. Authorities are urging citizens to follow doctors’ advice, while experts emphasize that the virus season is not over yet.