West Nile virus outbreak poses health threat in Greece

Health experts are warning of a significant West Nile virus outbreak in Greece, noting that current cases may only represent the tip of an iceberg. According to Oxford University immunology professor Petros Lygoxygkas, approximately 80% of infections are asymptomatic, while fewer than 1% develop into severe disease affecting the central nervous system.

With weather conditions remaining favorable for transmission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control expects more cases in the coming weeks. Experts emphasize that mosquito spraying alone is insufficient; effective prevention requires systematic monitoring of mosquito populations and breeding sites months before human cases appear.

There is an urgent call to transition from merely recording cases to predicting future outbreaks using mathematical models. Additionally, researchers suggest investigating whether the virus has become endemic in Greece through epidemiological studies and antibody testing in the population. The elderly remain particularly vulnerable due to immunosenescence.