The Slovenian National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) reported the detection of the infection. “On August 30, we received a notification from the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology of the Faculty of Medicine in Ljubljana that West Nile virus infection confirmed in three people from the north-eastern part Slovenia” – we read on the institute's website.
Two infected people were admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department of the University Hospital in Maribor.
Slovenia. First cases of infection in years
– One patient had a mild course and has already been discharged home, the other has a slightly more severe course. There are some complications, but his life is not in danger – the head of the department, Bożena Kotnik Kevorkijan, told journalists on Monday.
At the same time, she emphasized that it is interesting that all patients were infected with the virus in Sloveniatherefore the pathogen was not brought from abroad.
The last time the National Institute of Public Health recorded the appearance of this virus in Slovenia six years ago. Then it was confirmed five casesIn 2013 and 2017, one case of infection was detected each.
West Nile Virus. What are the symptoms?
Slovenia is not the only country to have seen an increase in West Nile virus infections in recent months. This year, infections have already occurred in, among others, w Austria, we Italy, w Croatia i already Hungary.
West Nile fever is a viral, zoonotic disease. A person becomes infected with the virus through a mosquito bite.. Symptoms of the disease appear between the second and seventh day after the bite. To date, the virus has not been found to spread from person to person through direct contact.
What are the symptoms of the disease in humans? In children, it is mild fever and poor well-being in young people high fever, conjunctival rednessheadache, muscle pain.
The infection can be particularly dangerous for the elderly, who may even develop do encephalitis i meninges.
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