Urgent Greek island warning as horror illness affects hundreds at holiday hotspot

A total of 180 reported cases of West Nile Virus infection, which is spread to humans by infected mosquitos, have been diagnosed in Greece during the outbreak with 132 suffering neurological symptoms

An urgent warning has been issued to Brit holidaymakers visiting Greece after a deadly virus outbreak has left 27 people dead. According to reports West Nile Virus has claimed the lives of 27 people in Greece with infections reported across the country.

The deaths took place before September 18 this year, according to reports on the Keep Talking Greece website, with the deceased between the ages of 61 and 92, the Greek National Public Health Organization EODY said. A total of 180 cases of West Nile Virus infection, which is spread to humans by infected mosquitos, have been diagnosed in Greece during the outbreak.

There are 26 Greek areas which have seen cases of West Nile Virus as of September 25 including the Regional Units of Achaia, Aitoloakarnania, Anatoliki Attiki, Argolida, Arkadia, Arta, Preveza, Chalkidiki, Drama, Evros, Fthiotida and Ileia. Beyond Greece’s borders 18 countries in Europe reported human cases of West Nile virus infection as of 25 September. Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Türkiye have all reported cases of the deadly disease. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has expressed concern at the outbreak. In Israel there have been 870 confirmed cases reported and 62 deaths as of August 22.

Most people who become infected with West Nile Virus do not have symptoms, the Foreign Office Travel Health Pro website said. In approximately 20 percent of cases patients develop symptoms that may include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, and skin rash. Symptoms can develop into a more serious illness in about 1 in every 150 cases of meningitis, with patients suffering from encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain, or acute flaccid paralysis. Symptoms of this neurological disease can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, flaccid paralysis and coma.

Fatality can be as high as 17% in these cases. Risk factors for developing this severe form of the illness include advanced age, underlying illnesses such as cancer, hypertension, kidney disease and genetic factors. Of the 180 reported Greek cases, 132 presented with symptoms involving the central nervous system (encephalitis, meningitis and/or acute muscle weakness and paralysis, among others), 48 cases presented with mild or no symptoms and 27 of the patients died.