TIRANA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen West Nile fever cases were identified in Albania, with three confirmed dead, the Institute of Public Health (IPH) of Albania has reported. The country's health authority updated on Tuesday that nine seniors over 70 were hospitalized due to the West Nile virus.
Following the IPH's report on Monday, Silvia Bino, head of the Control of Infectious Diseases Department of the Institute of Public Health, urged the public to "stay calm but be alert" in the face of the virus.
According to her update to local media, 80 percent of infected people show no symptoms, while 20 percent have fever or pain; however, only 1 percent develop severe symptoms.
The cases were primarily detected in July; all three deceased individuals were over 62 years old. The report highlighted that elderly citizens, particularly those with underlying health issues, are more susceptible to the infection. The cases have been mainly found in the city municipality of Lushnja and Fier, Kurbin, and Berat districts.
Eugena Tomini, director of the institute, explained to local media that the viral infection is a non-communicable zoonotic disease mainly circulating in birds and affects the human nervous system. The virus can be transmitted to humans by mosquito bites.
Symptoms of the disease include fever or severe muscle pain, intense headache, and skin marks. The institute warns that West Nile virus infection can be confused with seasonal flu and advises inhabitants to be cautious of the symptoms and take extra measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Albania experienced an outbreak of West Nile fever in 2012 and saw some cases in 2017 and 2018. Ednitem
