Lazarevic: One Person Dies of West Nile Fever in Belgrade

41 CASES OF WEST NILE FEVER REGISTERED IN SERBIA, THREE FATALITIES

An epidemiologist at the City Public Health Institute, Dr Ivana Begovic-Lazarevic, said on Aug. 15 that a person had died due to a West Nile virus infection.

The doctor reported 11 patients suffering severe forms of the infection.

“Luckily 80 percent of infected persons don’t have any symptoms at all, and are unaware of the bite of an infected mosquito. Some 20 percent of people who contract the West Nile virus have mild flu-like symptoms – fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, etc. In a week or two the patient is fully recovered,” Lazarevic said, adding that it appeared that another two deaths in Serbia might be related to the virus.

Dr Lazarevic said that in one percent of infected people severe symptoms occur – strong headache, stiff neck, confusion, and sometimes coma, requiring hospitalization.