Serbia reports 53 West Nile fever cases across 11 districts

The Institute of Public Health of Serbia ‘Dr Milan Jovanović Batut’ has reported 53 confirmed cases of West Nile fever across 11 districts in Serbia since the start of the surveillance season. Of these cases, 49 individuals developed a severe form of the illness.

The reported patients include 32 men and 21 women, with an average age of 65.1 years. Belgrade has recorded the highest number of infections with 20 cases, followed by the South Bačka district with nine, and the Šumadija district with six. Other affected areas include Central Banat, South Banat, North Banat, Rasina, Pomoravlje, West Bačka, Braničevo, and Raška districts.

West Nile fever is a seasonal viral disease primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, specifically the Culex pipiens species. In Serbia, the transmission season typically lasts from June to November.