West Nile virus poses low risk to students, says EODY President

The President of the National Public Health Organization (EODY), Theodoros Vasilakopoulos, has addressed concerns regarding the West Nile virus in relation to the reopening of schools. He emphasized that the virus does not pose a significant threat to children, noting that approximately 80% of infected individuals remain asymptomatic. Even in cases where symptoms appear, they are rarely severe, and serious complications such as meningitis are uncommon in the pediatric population.

Vasilakopoulos clarified that the virus is not transmitted from person to person, but rather through the bite of an infected mosquito. He noted that fatalities are almost exclusively observed among elderly individuals with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.

Regarding current infection rates, the official stated that numbers are consistent with last year's data. He attributed the higher number of infected mosquitoes this year to a cyclical pattern involving migratory birds, which occurs roughly every seven to eight years. The seasonal cycle of the virus typically concludes around mid-October, depending on weather conditions like temperature and humidity.