A fifth death connected to West Nile virus was registered Saturday in North Macedonia, which is conducting extensive fumigation against mosquitoes, the country's health authorities said.
According to the health ministry, the Balkan country has registered at least 43 cases of the mosquito-borne virus, most of them in the last three weeks.
"Almost every day someone is hospitalised and the number at the clinic is around 20 to 21," said the head of the Infectious Disease Clinic, Fadil Cana.
Earlier this month, health authorities declared epidemics in several municipalities in the capital Skopje and surrounding areas.
Health Minister Saso Klekovski appealed on Friday to citizens to take precautions and even to drain their pools, and called them to report to the authorities dead birds which are believed to be reservoir of the virus.
In recent weeks, extensive aerial and ground fumigation against mosquitoes has been conducted in Skopje and other areas, especially around irrigation canals and water areas.
The West Nile virus was first registered in the country in 2011 with 54 confirmed cases by the end of 2025.
In Europe, most human infections occur during mosquito season, which generally runs from late spring to autumn, with a peak in transmission between July and September.
There are no approved human vaccines and no specific treatments for the virus, according to the World Health Organization.
While mosquitoes spreading the West Nile virus are already widely present in Europe, the Asian tiger mosquito, which can transmit the dengue and chikungunya viruses, is now established in 16 European countries, double the number from 12 years ago, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said.
