The Ministry of Health told how West Nile fever came to Ukraine: which regions are at risk.

The Ministry of Health told about the spread of West Nile fever in Ukraine

Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin spoke about the spread of West Nile fever in Ukraine. He noted that climate change might contribute to the spread of this disease to the central regions of the country.

West Nile fever is a well-studied infectious disease that originates in Africa, but its outbreaks are also recorded in Europe. Kuzin noted that there have always been pockets of this infection in Ukraine, particularly in the Odesa, Donetsk, and Kyiv regions.

Mosquitoes that carry the virus are not limited to certain regions, and due to climate change, their circulation is increasing. Therefore, cases of the disease have already been recorded in the Poltava and Kyiv regions, as well as in Kyiv itself. Medics are checking for suspicions of this infection in other regions. Doctors must be prepared to detect West Nile fever as its geography spreads.

West Nile fever is transmitted through mosquito bites, which become infected from migratory birds. This infection can proceed without visible symptoms in most people, but one-fifth of those infected may experience serious symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle and joint pain, general weakness, nausea, and stomach upset.