Cases of paralysing virus that triggers seizures found in 9 European holiday hotspots – with 709 infected and 67 dead

CASES of a paralysing virus that triggers seizures were found in nine European holiday hotspots last year.

A total of 709 locally acquired West Nile Virus (WNV) infections and 67 deaths were reported across the continent, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Cases were highest in British favourite Italy, where 336 people fell ill.

But Greece (162), Romania (103), France (43), Hungary (29), and Spain (19) also saw higher-than-normal numbers.

There were six confirmed reports in both Germany and Croatia, and five in Cyprus.

While overall figures were lower than in 2022 (1,116), the number of affected regions is the highest since the peak in 2018 – rising 31 per cent.

“This indicates a wide geographical circulation of the virus,” the ECDC said.

Most cases were reported between July and September.

Locally-acquired cases take into account people who have not travelled and get bitten by an infected mosquito where they live, work or play.

Separate data for transmission linked to travel show 10 of these 19 cases were associated with journeys within the European Union.

This includes five in Italy, and one in Bulgaria, Germany, France, Hungary and Slovenia.

The remaining nine cases were associated with trips to Australia, Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, and the United States.

Serbia (91 and one) and North Macedonia (two and one) also reported locally-acquired and travel -associated human WNV cases.

WNV is a virus belonging to the same family as Zika, dengue and yellow fever.

It is spread by mosquitoes and commonly found in Africa, the Middle East, North America and West Asia, but critters carrying the condition are being discovered more frequently across Europe.

Many people won’t develop symptoms if they catch the virus, and they will get better without treatment, according to the NHS.

However, some will experience flu-like symptoms (such as a fever, body aches and a headache), a rash and feel sick.

Others might have muscle weakness, confusion, vision loss, numbness, neck stiffness, diarrhoea and seizures.

People over the age of 50 and those with another health condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer, are at increased risk of getting seriously ill.

Treatment usually involves rest, staying hydrated and over-the-counter pain relief.

Severe WNV cases need to be treated in hospital as it can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns.

There is no vaccine for WNV, but it is not contagious and cannot be passed on between people.

The only way to get it is from being bitten by an infected mosquito.

The best way to protect yourself when visiting high-risk areas is by using insect sprays, long clothing and mosquito nets.