The death toll in the southern Spanish province of Seville from the West Nile virus has risen to five in the past month, officials said on Monday.
Two more people died from the virus in the city of Coria del Rio, bringing the provincial death toll to five, according to Andalusia’s regional health and family ministry.
The four victims ranged in age from 71 to 87 years old.
A total of 10 cases have been reported in Dos Hermanas, Los Palacios y Villafranca, Coria del Rio, Guerena and Carmona in Seville, of which five have died and three have been discharged, while two patients are still being treated, the ministry added.
Andalusian authorities announced that the number of people diagnosed with West Nile virus has reached 40 this year.
Human cases of West Nile virus have also been reported in Austria, Croatia, France, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Hungary.
As of July 31, a total of 69 cases had been reported on the continent.
The West Nile, which is usually carried by mosquitoes, leads to an abundance of symptoms, including fever, body aches, rashes and vomiting. In severe cases, seizures, muscle weakness and even paralysis can be added.
In 2023, 709 cases were reported in nine European countries, including 67 deaths. That’s down from 1,116 in 2022, but more regions were affected by the spread of the virus in 2023 than in any year since 2018.
