West Nile in Romania: INSP Confirms 46 Cases, Two Deaths Among Elderly Persons

The National Institute of Public Health (INSP) announced on Thursday that the number of West Nile virus infections is rising in Romania. Between 3 June and 25 August, 46 cases were recorded, of which 38 were confirmed through laboratory testing and 8 are considered probable.

Sadly, the disease has also claimed its first victims: two elderly individuals, both with serious pre-existing chronic conditions, have died as a result of complications following bites from mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus.

Where the highest number of cases have been recorded

București remains the worst-affected area, with 20 confirmed cases. The remaining infections are spread across 15 counties:

• 4 cases: Călărași, Giurgiu, Ilfov
• 2 cases: Ialomița, Suceava
• 1 case: Argeș, Bihor, Botoșani, Cluj, Galați, Harghita, Iași, Mureș, Satu Mare, Vaslui

What specialists recommend for protection

As older people and those with chronic illnesses are at greater risk from this infection, epidemiologists recommend several preventive measures, both indoors and in the garden:

• Clothing and repellents: wearing long-sleeved tops and long trousers, especially in the evening, and using effective mosquito repellent products.
• Protecting the home: fitting screens on windows and doors, and using indoor insecticide sprays or plug-in devices.
• Garden maintenance: removing containers with standing water, draining puddles near the home, and collecting household waste regularly, in order to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

These measures are particularly important for families caring for elderly relatives, given that both deaths reported to date occurred in older individuals with pre-existing chronic conditions.