Abnormal heat brings West Nile fever to European Russia

According to the agency, hordes of dangerous insects will flood Russian forests this fall due to the abundance of precipitation and warm weather.

“Given the prevailing favorable climatic conditions in the current year - the abundance of precipitation predicted in most of Russia, including the central part, warm and prolonged autumn, - in the autumn period there may be a high number of vectors and the risk of transmission of the pathogen remains”, - Rospotrebnadzor quotes TASS.

Epidemiologists have reported that West Nile fever occurs in over 90 countries. More often than others, residents of Europe, the USA and Canada suffer from it. In Russia, more than 80% of cases occur in the regions of the Southern Federal District.

Mosquitoes carry West Nile fever. Their bites cause an acute viral disease that affects the central nervous system. In patients who have been bitten by infected mosquitoes, general intoxication is recorded, and after a few days, in severe cases, meningitis or meningoencephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis develop. In addition, the disease is accompanied by headaches, fever and sore throat.

The incubation period ranges from one day to several weeks. Previously, most of the inhabitants of the tropics suffered from this fever. However, now, when the climate has changed in the world due to global warming, infections have begun to be recorded in northern latitudes.

Scientists have indicated that dirofilaria, Japanese encephalitis, as well as dengue, Chikungunya, yellow, Zika, and Rift valleys can also be transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite.

To protect yourself from infection, experts advise wearing protective clothing that covers the body as much as possible when visiting water bodies, forests and parks. Before going on vacation to nature, it is necessary to apply repellents to the skin or clothing. To prevent infected mosquitoes from entering the house, it is necessary to place protective mosquito nets on windows and entrance openings and prevent water from accumulating in containers near the house.