Skopje, 19 September 2024 (MIA) - One person died from the West Nile fever at the Skopje-based University Clinic for Infectious Diseases. Since the start of the year, the Public Health Institute (PHI) has conducted a total of 30 tests for the West Nile fever, of which 4 were confirmed positive, and the fourth ended in death, PHI Director Marija Andonovska said at a press conference on Thursday.

"The first case was tested in April, a man from Strumica imported it from Kenya. The second case is a man from Kochani who imported it from Tunisia and was tested in July. The third case was tested in August- a man from Tetovo who, according to the epidemiological data, did not travel anywhere. The fourth and final case was tested at PHI on September 12. A man from Cheshinovo Obleshevo municipality was hospitalized at the Infectious Diseases Clinic, but unfortunately passed. The epidemiological data showed that he had not traveled anywhere," Andonovska said.

Regarding the symptoms, taking into consideration the case ended in a death, Andonovska explained that epidemiological data showed that the man was exhibiting restlessness, loss of consciousness, fever, and exhaustion.

"I can say that 80 percent of infected patients do not exhibit symptoms, 10 percent exhibit mild symptoms of the flu, while the central nervous system is impaired in less than one percent, showing signs of encephalitis or meningitis, which are actually the symptoms. Considering our domain of work, I can say that we have tests for detecting the West Nile fever," Andonovska noted.

According to PHI report, the deceased was a 78-year-old man whose first symptoms appeared on September 9- reduced appetite, exhaustion, high fever of 39°C. On September 10, when the patient began exhibiting restlessness, aggressiveness, aphasia, and loss of consciousness, he was transferred from the Public Health Institute in Kochani to the Clinic in Shtip, where he underwent diagnostic neurological procedures. Due to the severity of his condition, the patient was diagnosed with encephalitis and transferred to the Skopje-based University Clinic for Infectious Disease. Samples for microbiological analysis of multiple pathogens were also taken, the report states.

Serological testing, taken at the PHI virology laboratory in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, confirmed the presence of West Nile fever antibodies.

The PHI report states that the patient was a retired farmer who lived in Obleshevo village in Kochani. According to heteroanamnesis data, the patient had not traveled outside of the country, or outside his place of residence, during the incubation period. No other family member is exhibiting similar symptoms.

"Mosquitos have been spotted in the Kochani region. According to epidemiologists, larvicide and adulticide deterrent activities have been ongoing in the Kochani area, while a tender procedure is planned for the Cheshinovo-Obleshevo region, but so far no deterrent activities have been carried out," the report said.

This disease in the country is registered sporadically, typically among tested patients with a neuroinvasive form of the disease. ssh/sk/

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