The well-known pediatrician, Mihai Craiu, claims that 80% of those infected with the West Nile virus do not show any signs of illness, and less than 1% of infected people will develop severe forms, with damage to the central nervous system.
Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus PHOTO: Archive
“It is very hot and, for various reasons, there are a lot of mosquitoes around us. As we have higher emotions in the summer, the news of the eight deaths caused by West Nile virus infection recorded in the EU is likely to generate a lot of discussion. 80% of those who are infected with vWN have no sign of the disease! The disease produced by vWN is not spread from person to person by touch or proximity (as in the case of influenza or other airborne diseases). Less than 1% of people infected with vWN will develop severe disease with central nervous system involvement (meningitis or encephalitis)“, draws the attention of Dr. Mihai Craiu, primary pediatrician at the “Alessandrescu-Rusescu” Institute for Mother and Child Health in Bucharest, on his Virtual Children’s Hospital Facebook page.
The doctor reports that “we don’t need to panic immediately after a simple mosquito bite”.
“Signs of illness do not appear immediately, but after an incubation period of several days (usually 6-14 days for those with normal immunity or even 21 days for those with immune deficiencies). The risk of complicated forms of vWN infection is higher in elderly people, with hypertension, diabetes, cancer or kidney disease”claims Dr. Craiu.
The pediatrician also explains how we can recognize the serious disease with damage to the central nervous system.
“Ill people have fever, malaise, nausea and vomiting, headache, confusion, drowsiness or even coma and convulsions. Typical signs of the disease would be photo- and phonophobia (the patient is bothered by light or noises of normal intensity), jet vomiting and stiffness of the neck muscles (we cannot move the head easily so that we touch the chest with the chin). The solution? Protection by appropriate repellents or long-sleeved clothing and long trousers (especially late at night)’ added Dr. Mihai Craiu.
Eight people have died from West Nile virus in Europe
Five people have died from the virus in Greece, two in Italy and one in Spain, according to figures released on Monday by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
However, local media in Spain say two people have died from the virus, with the southern city of Seville announcing new prevention measures under pressure from locals.
The ECDC says the total number of cases reported so far this year is within the expected range, even though the number of cases in Greece and Spain is higher than in previous years.
Greece has reported 31 cases, Italy 25 and Spain five. Austria, Hungary and Serbia each reported two cases, while France and Romania confirmed a single case, according to Politico.
All regions affected this year were previously affected or had neighboring regions that reported cases.
There are no vaccines or drugs to prevent West Nile virus. Measures to prevent infection include using mosquito repellent, wearing clothing that covers most of the body, and sleeping in insulated or air-conditioned rooms.
