The ARS of Île-de-France announced on Wednesday that two indigenous cases of “West Nile” (or Western Nile) were observed. A first in the region. This disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, can cause significant fever, even if in 80% of cases, the infection is asymptomatic.
This is a first in Île-de-France. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) of the region announces West Nile “West Nile”, or Western Nile, was detected, precisely in the Seine-Saint-Denis department. “These are the first identifications of local vector transmission of the West Nile virus in Île-de-France,” underline the health authorities in a press release.
How is it transmitted and what are the symptoms?
This Western Nile virus takes its name from an eponymous district, in Uganda, where it was isolated for the first time in 1937, reports the Pasteur Institute. It is transmitted “mainly by the bite of a mosquito of the genus ‘Culex’, infected after having stung a bird carrying the virus”, specifies the ARS. “This mosquito, common in France, spikes especially in the evening and at night,” adds the agency, unlike the mosquito-tiger, vector of dengue, chikungunya or zika. There is no direct transmission between humans, nor via an insect having bitten an infected person, supports the ARS.
In 80% of cases, it is an asymptomatic infection, specify scientists. When it is symptomatic, it translates into a “pseudo-grippal syndrome”, with “a large fever accompanied by headache, muscle or abdominal, nausea, diarrhea)”, underlines the ARS of Île-de-France.
And in very rare cases (less than 1%), “neurological complications (meningitis, encephalitis) can occur. Generally, the patient spontaneously recovers, sometimes with sequelae. But viral infection can be fatal mainly in the elderly”. In France, West Nile fever is registered on the list of compulsory declaration diseases (MDO).
