In Italythere is a gradual widening of the epidemic of infections with virus West Nile (WN or West Nile virus) in the region of Veneto. The figures published on August 5, 2022 by the regional authorities amount to 70 cases of infection, including 28 in the form of fever and 42 in the form of neuroinvasive disease.
More than half of the cases were found in the province of Padua (40), followed by Treviso et Rovigo (9), Venezia (7), Vicenza (3) et Verona (2). So far there have been 6 victims, all male with an average age of 82.2.
Reminders on the virus West Nile
The virus West Nile (WN, or West Nile virus) is considered today as the Flavivirus the most common following dengue fever. It belongs to the family of Flaviviridae of the kind Flavivirus. It is migratory birds that act as reservoir animals for the West Nile virus. WN is transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes of the genus Culex : following biting infected birds, female mosquitoes become competent to transmit the virus to humans during a blood meal.
In the majority of cases (80%), WN infection is asymptomatic.
- The symptomatic forms of the disease are characterized by the sudden appearance of a high fever following 3 to 6 days of incubation. This fever is accompanied by headache and back pain, muscle aches, cough, swollen glands in the neck, and often a rash, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and symptoms respiratory.
- Neurological complications (meningitis, encephalitis) occur in less than 1% of cases. Even more rarely, other complications (hepatitis, pancreatitis or myocarditis) may appear.
Generally, the patient recovers spontaneously, sometimes with sequelae. But the viral infection can be fatal mainly in older adults.
Travel advice
Although WN virus infection is rare among travelers, for protection it is advisable to wear light-colored clothing with long sleeves, pants and socks in areas where mosquitoes are present, especially at dusk and in the summer. dawn when they are most active; and protect yourself from mosquito bites by using insect repellent containing DEET.
Consult a doctor in case of sudden onset of flu-like symptoms accompanied by a high temperature (fever) following traveling to a risk area.
Source : ProMED.
