The confirmation, or not, of the infection of a man with the West Nile Virus in the Algarve arrives «within a week», revealed Francisco George, Director-General of Health, to the Sul Informação. The DGS announced yesterday the existence of "a probable case of disease by West Nile Virus in a Portuguese citizen residing in the Algarve."
Francisco George advanced to the Sul Informação that the man, «over 70 years old, was treated at the Centro Hospitalar do Algarve, in Faro, was discharged, cured, and the analyzes showed that it was likely to be a West Nile Virus infection». The infection happened "surely" in the Algarve, according to the official.
The Director-General of Health explained that "confirmation tests are being carried out" and that the results should arrive within a week.
According to the Directorate-General for Health, the «West Nile virus that circulates in some areas of the Mediterranean Basin is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito of the genus Culex and it can, in 20% of infections, cause febrile illness with mild clinical manifestations, which rarely progresses to viral meningitis'.
The infection "does not spread from person to person (with the exception of blood transfusions or tissue transplantation," adds the DGS.
Francisco George emphasizes that "there are no increased risks at the moment", therefore, he is not afraid that there will be a greater influx of patients to hospitals who suspect an infection, even because "people believe when communication is transparent".
For now, despite being a "probable" case and, therefore, unconfirmed, preventive measures are already being taken, "especially the recommendation for the control of mosquito breeding sites", according to Francisco George.
Since the transmission of the virus can occur through the blood, the DGS also recommends "to implement, now, actions aimed at the safety of blood and blood components and transplantation" and advises "the reinforcement of individual and domestic protection (reduce the body exposure to mosquito bites, use of repellents and mosquito nets)».
The articulation “with the veterinary services of surveillance and control actions, since mosquitoes infected by that virus can also transmit the infection to animals, in particular horses”, is another of the recommended measures to be adopted in this situation.
The DGS also said that «the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge is prepared to receive samples and carry out laboratory diagnosis of this virus» and that «the situation in the Algarve continues to be monitored and any changes will be communicated».
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