North Macedonia records 56 West Nile virus infections, seven deaths

North Macedonia has recorded 56 people infected with West Nile virus this year, seven of whom have died, the country’s Institute of Public Health said.

A weekly epidemiological report, covering cases through Sept. 1, listed 52 confirmed infections and four probable cases. Skopje accounted for 54 cases, while Veles and Kumanovo each recorded one.

The report identified 55 infections as locally acquired and one as involving a travel history in Greece, although the incubation period also included time spent in North Macedonia. Forty-four of those infected were men and 12 were women, with an average age of 65.8 years. Symptoms in the first diagnosed case this year appeared on May 12.