The number of deaths from West Nile virus in North Macedonia has risen to six. A 72-year-old man from Skopje has died in hospital after being infected with the virus and being hospitalized for more than two weeks.
His death comes at a time when health authorities are grappling with a rapid increase in cases. So far, 51 people have been confirmed infected, most of them in the Skopje area.
Those affected are mainly people over 60 years old, while in some cases the infection has caused severe neurological complications, including encephalitis and meningitis.
The situation has taken on worrying proportions due to the pace of the virus’ spread. At the end of July, only eight cases were identified, while within a few weeks the number has increased to 51.
This is considered one of the most serious outbreaks of the virus in the country since 2011, when the first cases of West Nile were recorded in North Macedonia.
Faced with the situation, authorities have declared a state of epidemic in several municipalities of Skopje and have increased measures to control mosquitoes, which transmit the virus, as well as epidemiological monitoring.