West Nile fever causes 10 deaths, North Macedonia leads the region in the number of infected people

“North Macedonia has recorded the highest number of deaths from West Nile fever. The health minister has confirmed this and said that the number of people affected is higher than in the past 15 years. Is this linked to institutional mismanagement, or are citizens reporting their symptoms late?” said journalist Arta Kalisi.

Experts point out that entomological inspections are not carried out regularly and that there is a lack of monitoring of birds and animals, which are part of the virus’s transmission cycle.

“Aerial spraying, as has been established, has not been able to stop the spread of the disease. It remains one method of intervention, but it is not enough. This year, the highest number has been recorded as a result of poor epidemic management; citizens are bearing the burden of this situation with their health,” said expert Renata Mladinovska.

The drop in temperatures has not yet eliminated the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. “Europe has warned that the threat from these diseases continues. In our country, the idea still prevails that spraying is the only solution. But it does not constitute a disease-control system; it is merely a preventive measure. The ‘One Health’ approach is needed—one that combines public health, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, entomology and sciences such as ecology. It appears that this approach is still lacking in our country,” Mladinovska stressed.

This week, the tenth death from West Nile fever was recorded, making North Macedonia the country with the highest number of deaths in the region. Between 2011 and 2025, a total of 54 cases had been confirmed in the country, and five deaths had been recorded. This year alone, the number of people affected has reached 70.