BUCHAREST, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- As many as 38 deaths have been reported so far in this year in Romania due to the West Nile virus, the Ministry of Health announced Thursday.
All the deaths occurred in patients with co-morbidity and the capital city, Bucharest, with ten deaths, became the worst-hit place.
A total of 268 cases of meningitis/meningo-encephalitis caused by West Nile virus infection were recorded in the eastern European country until now, the ministry said, citing data of the National Center for Transmissible Diseases Surveillance and Control.
The transmission of West Nile virus is made by several mosquito species in both the urban and rural areas and with the cooling of the weather, a decrease in the number of cases of illness is expected, according to health ministry experts.
The West Nile virus infection is not transmitted from person to person, but only through mosquito bites. It begins with a fever, high temperature, nausea and vomiting, which are the symptoms of an ordinary virus infection. However, the symptoms turn very fast into encephalitis and meningitis, and the infected need urgent hospitalization.
About 80 percent of the infected people have no symptoms, and experts recommend that those who have fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting or skin rash, must rush to the nearest clinic.
People in Romania are advised to avoid exposure to mosquitoes, to wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants and to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the house.
