Greece on alert after West Nile Virus found in pigeons in Central Macedonia

[sharon sanders]

machine translation -

At present there is no reason for concern

Alert for West Nile virus

07/04/2011 12:36

On the alert at the health services in Northern Greece to tackle any outbreak of West Nile virus, although at present there is no reason for concern.

"The fact that the virus was detected in the blood of pigeons in areas of Central Macedonia, does not cause any, nor expect to occur within days of the outbreak in humans," stated to ANA-MPA deputy commander of the Third DOE and member of the Crisis Management Team to address the West Nile virus, Panagiotis Nanos.

While he explained that he was expected to detect virus in pigeons because the area had experienced last year a problem with West Nile virus. "Do not leave things to chance, there is a readiness and beyond sprays against mosquitoes in progress, we have had information days and we distribute leaflets. Therefore there is no reason for concern, "said Mr. Nanos.

http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/?aid=132027

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Greece on alert after West Nile Virus found in pigeons in Central Macedonia

machinetranslated - edited

July 7, 2011

- snip -

The infected pigeons are or young birds born this year, or birds that had been seronegative prior to blood sampling.

This means that the pigeons were infected recently, by overwintering mosquitoes carrying the virus.

Ethnos



Central Macedonia province in Greece; Capital Thessaloniki. Bulgaria and Macedonia are countries bordering - at the north - Greek Central Macedonia .


Reports on the West Nile outbreak in Greece from July through October 2010 in this thread.

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