Greece West Nile virus deaths rise to nine

Greece has recorded nine deaths from West Nile virus this year, while total infections have risen to 110, the country's state health agency said Thursday.

The EODY agency said 45 new cases of the mosquito-borne virus had been recorded over the past week, calling the increase “significant”. It said 81 of the 110 infected people developed severe complications affecting the central nervous system, and that the nine people who died were over 65.

Authorities in Athens have stepped up fumigation. Greater Athens governor Nikos Hardalias said this week that fumigation around the capital and its outskirts was continuing and had increased by 30 percent. EODY said infections are particularly intense in the greater Athens area.

West Nile virus can cause flu-like symptoms. In severe cases it can lead to tremors, fever, coma, encephalitis or meningitis.

The World Health Organization said at the end of July that Greece had recorded the largest recent increase in infections on the European continent. The WHO says there is no approved human vaccine and no specific treatment for the virus, with care limited to symptom management and supportive hospital treatment for severe cases.

Other cases have been observed elsewhere in Europe, including in Italy, Spain, North Macedonia and Romania.