West Nile Virus, which was first detected in 1937, began to be seen in Greece. In the statement made by the National Public Health Organization of Greece (EODY), it was stated that West Nile Virus cases and deaths increased. It was stated that 11 people died due to the West Nile virus transmitted by mosquitoes and 123 cases were seen across the country. In the statement, it was emphasized that 74 of the cases complained of central nervous system disorders such as meningitis, while 49 showed mild or no symptoms.
WHAT IS WEST NILE VIRUS?
West Nile Virus, first identified in Uganda in 1937, is an arbovirus infection that continues to spread worldwide over the years. Mostly transmitted by the bites of Culex mosquitoes, the disease often spreads between June and September. The reason for the rapid spread of the disease worldwide is that mosquitoes carrying the virus infect different poultry species by stinging them. Many infected bird species flying long distances play an active role in the spread of the disease between continents.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF WEST NILE VIRUS?
It takes approximately 2 to 15 days for a person to show the first symptoms of the virus after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The infection causes different clinical findings after the incubation period. While some cases do not show any symptoms, others may be severe enough to require inpatient treatment and even lead to death. Headache is often the first symptom seen in the disease that develops due to West Nile Virus. Symptoms of West Nile Virus, which often presents with flu-like symptoms, include headache and backache, sudden high fever, weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, skin rash, and excessive swelling of the lymph nodes known as lymphadenopathy.
PARLIAMENT CAN BE SEEN IN ADVANCED CASE
In advanced cases, symptoms may include drowsiness, inability to hold the neck upright, confusion, muscle twitching and temporary neurological dysfunctions known as tremor, coma, convulsions, meningitis, encephalitis, ataxia and paralysis due to central nervous system involvement.
HOW IS THE WEST NILE VIRUS TRANSMITTED?
Mosquitoes are the main source of West Nile Infection. Birds are the main hosts of the disease, which is transmitted to mammals by the bite of flies, which are included in the Culex species. The virus, which is transmitted from birds to mosquitoes again, causes high viremia in this way, or in other words, parts of the virus enter the bloodstream. West Nile Virus, which is spread worldwide by migratory birds, is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. However, since the infection in humans progresses with low viremia, the virus cannot be transmitted from human to mosquito again. The disease is not transmitted to humans from other infected mammals. The disease, which is not transmitted from person to person, can only be passed from mother to baby through birth and breastfeeding. Apart from this, it is known that it can be transmitted by blood and organ transplantation, albeit very rarely. In addition, the disease can be transmitted by contact of the feces of infected birds with an incision on the skin.