United States: Authorities assess that the deadly West Nile virus represents a significant and growing danger in Europe after more birds started dying since the virus invaded European territory.
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The illness spread across Europe through mosquito bites while killing fifteen Greek people and five Spanish individuals during the previous year.
The same expected mortality rates from West Nile virus match those of the Usutu virus because both viruses belong to one viral cluster.
The displacement of the Usutu virus to birds since 2018 contributed to a 40% decrease in the blackbird population.
According to Arran Folly from the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency, “If that amount of humans dropped dead in London, you would know about it quickly.”
“The same mosquitoes that can transmit Usutu typically can transmit West Nile, and the same birds which act as hosts [for Usutu] can also act as hosts of West Nile, he noted, as metro.co.uk reported.
How this virus spreads?
Mosquito-borne viruses represent an expanding danger to people and animals throughout the national territory.
This development became the initial instance of a mosquito-borne ailment passing between animals through bites in UK territory.
The transmission path of West Nile virus matches the virus spread of the Usutu virus under equivalent environmental needs.
A 71-year-old male patient with intensive care needs entered hospital admission at Seville to become the most recent fatality in Spain.
Both victims resided in Coria del Rio, while the age of the second remains unknown as the location is situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir River.
The hospital admitted Granada Romero Ruiz when she reached 86 years old before her July 19 death that occurred on July 11.
According to Antonio Pineda, her mother was healthy prior to the mosquito attack.
La Puebla del Rio Town Hal stated on X, “We deeply regret the death of Granada, affected by West Nile virus. We will work tirelessly so that all public providers do the utmost against this virus and there is a permanent strategy in place to tackle mosquitos,” metro.co.uk reported.
The two other victims resided between Dos Hermanas and Coria del Rio.
The Spanish medical authorities issued virus alerts to foreign visitors who planned to visit Spain throughout the previous few years.