West Nile virus claims 20 lives so far this year in Greece

ATHENS

West Nile virus has caused the death of at least 20 people so far this year in Greece, the country’s public health body announced on Tuesday.

Some 115 cases of infections, out of 157 in total, led to central nervous system manifestations such as encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute flaccid paralysis, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) added in a statement.

It noted that all 20 fatalities were over 64 years old.

The West Nile virus is generally transmitted to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Most people infected with the virus have only mild, flu-like symptoms that last a few days.

Around one-fifth of the infected people develop West Nile fever, whose most common symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands, and skin rash.