West Nile Fever in Serbia: 53 Cases, 20 in Belgrade
The Batut institute's latest update, through September 27, counts 53 cases in 11 districts, seven more than a week earlier. The transmission season runs to November.
Think the mosquito threat is over now that summer is winding down? Not when it comes to West Nile fever. The Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut” announced on Tuesday, September 29, that 53 cases of the disease have been registered since surveillance began on June 1, through September 27.
What does the latest West Nile fever update show?
Of the 53 patients, 49 have the more severe, neuroinvasive form of the disease. They include 32 men and 21 women, and the average age is 65.1 years. Cases have been reported in 11 districts. The update through September 20 counted 46 cases in 10 districts, 43 of them neuroinvasive, so seven patients were added in a week.
The reports we reviewed do not say how many people have died in Serbia this season.
Where are the patients? Belgrade leads
Breakdown by district, according to Batut:
- Belgrade: 20 cases
- South Backa District: 9
- Sumadija District: 6
- Central Banat District: 5
- South Banat District: 4
- North Banat, Rasina and Pomoravlje districts: 2 each
- West Backa, Branicevo and Raska districts: 1 each
In the previous update Belgrade had 16 cases, so four more have been added. Raska District appeared for the first time, and Rasina and Pomoravlje each have one more case than a week ago.
How fast is the count rising from week to week?
The cumulative number of cases by reporting week looks like this:
- through August 24: 11
- through August 30: 18 (seven districts)
- through September 6: 37 (nine districts)
- through September 14: 43
- through September 20: 46
- through September 27: 53 (11 districts)
The biggest jump came in the week through September 6, when 19 cases were added. Growth then slowed to six, then three, and is now back up to seven, the same as in the week through August 30.
Why does the risk not end with summer?
The main carrier in Serbia is the Culex pipiens mosquito, a species that is well established here. Batut says the virus transmission season usually lasts from June to November. That is why surveillance continues, and why protective measures still apply when the days turn cooler.
Most infected people have no symptoms or only a mild illness, while severe neurological complications affect a smaller number of people. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says older people are among the groups at higher risk of the severe form. That fits the average age of 65 among patients in Serbia.
What is the picture in Europe and the region?
Batut’s previous report, using ECDC data through September 17, says 14 European countries have reported 1,437 locally acquired human cases. Most are in Italy (652) and Greece (355), followed by Spain (114), Romania (91) and France (81). In the region, North Macedonia has reported 66 cases, Croatia 13 and Albania two.
What can you do before heading out to the terrace or garden?
Batut recommends personal protection against mosquito bites. In practice that comes down to five things:
- mosquito repellent on any exposed skin
- clothing that covers most of the body
- mosquito screens on windows
- time spent in rooms with screens or air conditioning
- extra care for older members of the household, who face the highest risk of the severe form
Batut’s next update will show whether the rise of seven cases a week continues.
