West Nile Fever Outbreak in Rostov Region: Symptoms, Prevention, and Updates

2023-07-21 20:19:00

Two cases of West Nile fever have been confirmed in the Rostov region, located in the south-west of Russia, announced on Friday the Federal Service for Supervision of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor).

“Two laboratory-confirmed cases of West Nile fever have been recorded in the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov region,” the Russian health watchdog said in a statement.

The beginning of the epidemic was recorded during the last ten days of June 2023, specifies the same source, noting that the main vectors of West Nile fever are mosquitoes, which are particularly prevalent in humid ecosystems.

Birds are “reservoirs of West Nile fever virus” and play an important role in spreading the disease, said the body, which recommended preventing mosquito bites by using repellents, placing screens on apartment and house windows, and not storing water in open containers.

West Nile fever is an acute viral disease with an incubation period ranging from a few days to several weeks.

Asymptomatic in 80% of cases, the infection can however cause fever, headache, asthenia, nausea, vomiting, rash (on the trunk) and swollen glands in humans.

The severe form (meningitis or encephalitis resulting from a neuroinvasive complication) results in high fevers, neck stiffness, a state of prostration, muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, which can evolve into paralysis and coma.

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