Greek health services are on high alert after two more cases of patients diagnosed with the West Nile virus were detected in the prefectures of Achaia in the Peloponnese and Rethymon in Crete. These are the latest areas where the virus, transmitted via mosquito bites, was located after an initial case was detected in Arcadia in August. Despite consistent efforts by authorities to contain the area where mosquitos are concentrated in Argolis, the virus escaped and affected the two other regions. According to the latest epidemiological report of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP), two people were hospitalised yesterday in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) with complications in their central nervous system after being diagnosed with the West Nile virus.
In total, 25 people have received hospital treatment since last June in ICU with symptoms caused by Western Nile virus infection. 15 others were diagnosed as infected but did not need to be hospitalised. The fatal cases so far are three and concern elderly people. Experts estimate in the report that more cases of the West Nile virus infections are expected in Greece.