Bulgaria Might Face Deadly Mosquitoes

Health | August 9, 2010, Monday // 11:44|  views

The West Nile virus might come to Bulgaria through the tourists, comign back from vacation, or through the mosquitoes, carrying the virus. Photo by science.howstuffworks.com

Mosquitoes, infected with the West Nile virus have killed three people for three days in Greece.

The Bulgarian Darik Radio reported Monday that patients have been hospitalized in the north part of the country, waiting for a diagnosis and treatment. The Bulgarian doctors are taking samples from patients in the infectious wards, in order to isolate the virus and get acquainted to the disease.

“Doctors have started to take samples from mosquitoes, ticks and rodents, in order to study the virus, because the danger is approaching,” said Angel Kunchev, epidemiologist from the Health Ministry.

He has explained that the first symptoms of the virus are similar to the other viruses – vomiting, high temperature, and fever. However, as the disease progresses, specific symptoms appear. The West Nile virus can very fast affect the brain membrane and turn into meningitis.

According to Kunchev, the virus could be brought to the territory of Bulgaria through the tourists, coming back from vacation, as well as through the mosquitoes, which carry the virus.

“During the change in climate is observed displacement of tropical diseases to areas that are not typical for them,” Kunchev said and added that a map from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control shows that the rare tropical viruses have begun to appear in the Balkan areas more often.

The doctor also said that there has been an outbreak of a West Nile virus epidemic in Romania about 10 years ago. He added that the disease has caused the death to more than 1000 people in the USA for the past ten years.


Tags: mosquito, greece, virus, West Nile virus

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