The first indigenous case of the “West Nile” virus, Western Nile Virus, was identified in Hyères in the Var in mid-July.
According to the Pasteur Institute, the virus is now endemic around the Mediterranean.
This virus is transported by migratory birds and transmitted to humans by mosquitoes of the genus “Culex”, a species distinct from the tiger mosquito.
The disease can be transmitted to domestic humans and herbivores like the horse.
80% of asymptomatic cases
More rarely, the virus can be transmitted by products of human origin, during blood transfusion or organ transplantation, tissues or cells. Cases of transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding have also been described.
And The majority of cases are asymptomatic20% of infected people have pseudo-grippal syndrome.
Neurological complications occur in less than 1% of cases, especially in immunocompromised or elderly people, and can even lead to death.
Detected in the years 1962-1963
In mainland France, detected in the years 1962-1963 in the Camargue, the virus was found again in 2000 in horses.
In 2003, 7 human cases were diagnosed in the Var department and in 2006, 5 equine cases were detected in the eastern Pyrenees.
The analysis of these human and equine grouped cases as well as international data led to proposing in 2004 an adaptation of monitoring and protection measures hitherto in place.
In 2018, 25 cases of Aboriginal human infection in the virus were identified.
