ATHENS – Holiday-makers planning to visit Greece have been cautioned about a deadly outbreak of West Nile Virus (WNV) that has claimed the lives of 12 people so far this year.

According to reports from Keep Talking Greece, the deaths occurred before August 21, with the National Public Health Organization (EODY) confirming that the victims were aged between 61 and 92. In the past week alone, two deaths were recorded, and 24 new cases were diagnosed, bringing the total number of infections in Greece to 100.

The virus, which is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, has been detected in various regions across Greece, including Larissa, Karditsa, Lefkada, Halkidiki, Pella, and Thessaloniki, among others.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has expressed concern over the spread of the virus, noting that cases have also been reported in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, France, Italy, Spain, and Israel, where 870 confirmed cases and 62 deaths have been recorded as of August 22.

The Foreign Office’s Travel Health Pro website advises that while most people infected with WNV do not exhibit symptoms, about 20% may experience fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, and skin rash. In more severe cases, which occur in about one in 150 infections, the virus can cause neurological illnesses such as meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis. The fatality rate for severe cases can be as high as 17%, with older adults and those with underlying health conditions being at greater risk.

This story was originally reported by Britain’s Express.