Five more infections with West Nile virus in Utrecht

Five more infections with the West Nile virus have been identified in the province of Utrecht. It reports that European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The new reports of contamination were made to ECDC between October 30 and November 5.

The virus is passed on to people transmitted via infected mosquitoes, which have fed on infected birds. The virus cannot be passed from person to person just like that, only through blood or organ transplantation. Four in five people infected with West Nile virus do not get any complaints. The rest will develop mild flu-like symptoms, such as fever and muscle pain. Serious complications, such as encephalitis or meningitis, can occur in 1 percent, mainly elderly and frail.

In October, the first human infection of the virus in the Netherlands was detected in the Utrecht region. On that Sanquin decided that all blood banks blood arriving in the Utrecht region were tested for the West Nile virus. It is not clear whether the current infections have been established by Sanquin. Nor is it clear whether the infected persons have become (seriously) ill.

Previous infection of the Dutch always took place abroad. The virus is found in many parts of the world, including the United States. It has also expanded in recent years from southern to central Europe. The very first infection with the West Nile virus in the Netherlands was established in August: a warbler in the Utrecht region appeared to have the virus among its members.

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