SAV: Scientists Detect Presence of West Nile and Usutu Viruses in Slovakia

Bratislava, November 18 (TASR) - The Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) Biomedical Centre in cooperation with employees of 36 regional branches of the Public Health Office have detected the presence of West Nile virus and Usutu virus in mosquitoes in several districts of Slovakia, which has made it possible to properly diagnose patients infected with these viruses and to testing donated blood, TASR learnt from SAV spokesperson Monika Tinakova on Monday. The Usutu virus was detected in mosquitoes in the districts of Kosice, Dunajska Streda, Levice, Svidnik, Prievidza, Nove Zamky, Velky Krtis, Senica and Humenne, while the West Nile virus was found in the districts of Nove Zamky and Kosice. "The number of positive mosquitoes detected peaked in August and September, which is why there's a need to expect these illnesses to emerge particularly in this period. Most of the infected cases are asymptomatic, however, and more serious cases emerge in only a small percentage of those infected," explained Viktoria Cabanova of the SAV Institute of Virology, who heads the project. The higher number of mosquitoes testing positive for the West Nile virus doesn't automatically translate into a higher number of infections in the human population. Chief hygienist Tatiana Cervenova added that the illness caused by the Usutu virus has been diagnosed in people for the first time in Slovakia's history. mf/df