He pointed out that infected birds, which may change their migration routes due to climate change, could contribute to transmitting the virus to new areas, making it difficult to predict where it will spread.
According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as of the end of last September, local human cases had been recorded in 16 European countries, including Italy, Greece, Spain, France, and the Netherlands.
West Nile fever is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, which pick up the virus when feeding on the blood of carrier birds. About 80% of those infected show no symptoms, while others may suffer from fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and nausea.
In rare cases, the infection may develop into serious neurological complications, such as encephalitis or meningitis, and may lead to death.
In the absence of an approved vaccine for humans, preventing mosquito bites and avoiding stagnant water, which provides a suitable environment for their breeding, remain the most prominent ways to reduce the risk of infection.
