Two indigenous cases of West Nile virus were detected in Seine-Saint-Denis (Paris region), the regional health agency (ARS) of Île-France stated on Wednesday.
“There are some first vector local transmission identifications of the West-Nile virus in Île-de-France,” the ARS said in a press release.
The West Nile virus is mainly transmitted to humans through bites by the “Culex” mosquito genus, infected by biting a virus-carrying bird, the same source explained, adding that this mosquito, which is common in France, bites especially at nighttime, unlike tiger mosquito, aedes albopictus, who are active during daytime.
This summer, apart from these two cases in Paris, five other indigenous cases were detected in the Alpes-Côte-d’Azur province, in the south of France.
“In 80% of the cases, the infection is asymptomatic,” noted the ARS. when it’s symptomatic, it manifests as a flu-like syndrome (severe fever as well as headaches, muscle or abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea), according to the same source, which added that in rare cases (less than 1%), neurological complications (meningitis, encephalitis) may occur.
“Generally, the patient recovers spontaneously, sometimes with sequelae, but viral infection can be deadly especially for the elderly,” the ARS emphasized, calling on patients with suggestive symptoms — such as a fever of sudden onset, headaches and back pain, muscle pain, cough, swelling of the neck glands, a rash, nausea or abdominal pain — to quickly consult a doctor.
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