Afət Ziyadqızı
West Nile virus has been detected in dead crows in Slovenia.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the virus was last detected in birds in the country in 2024.
According to the report, no cases of West Nile virus infection among humans have been recorded in Slovenia this year.
Birds, particularly crows, are considered natural reservoirs of the virus, which is transmitted through mosquito bites.
West Nile virus is mainly transmitted to humans through bites from mosquitoes of the Culex genus.
As there is no vaccine against the virus, people are advised to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
The incubation period after a mosquito bite is reported to range from two to 14 days. In people with weakened immune systems, this period may extend to 21 days.
About 80 percent of people infected with the virus develop no symptoms.
About 20 percent of patients may experience fever, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, as well as headaches and muscle pain.
Initially observed only in Africa, West Nile virus later spread to several European countries, particularly France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can circulate between mosquitoes and birds, with humans and other mammals becoming incidental hosts. Public health authorities typically recommend reducing exposure by using insect repellent, wearing clothing that covers the skin and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
