Slovenia reports first West Nile virus cases in six years
The first case of West Nile fever in Slovenia in six years has been reported. This serious disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, has infected three people, all of whom contracted the illness within the country.
Representatives from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) in Slovenia announced the detection of this viral infection. Currently, it is known that the infection has been confirmed in three patients.
Specialists from the Slovenian Institute highlight that West Nile fever can have very serious consequences. In some cases, it can lead to meningitis or encephalitis.
On 30 August, we received a notification from the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology of the Faculty of Medicine in Ljubljana that West Nile virus infection had been confirmed in three people from the north-eastern part of Slovenia, according to a statement posted on the Slovenian institute's website, quoted by the rmf24.pl portal.
What about the patients? Slovenian doctors speak out
It has been confirmed that the lives of the infected patients are not in danger. Their health condition is stable, and there is no cause for concern among the doctors. All have been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department at the University Hospital in Maribor.
One patient had a mild course and has already been discharged home, another is experiencing a slightly more severe course. There are some complications, but his life is not in danger. All of them contracted the infection in Slovenia. The pathogen did not come to us from outside the country, said Božena Kotnik Kevorkijan, head of the department, at a press conference.
The last confirmed case of West Nile fever in Slovenia was recorded in 2018, with five infections total. Prior to this, there were isolated cases in 2017 and 2013.
