The first case of 2023 of Nile fever , the West Nile virus, on an animal has been identified in Sardinia.
The virus hit a crow in the Solarussa area , in the Oristano area, where a culling plan implemented by the provincial administration was underway and which involved animals harmful to crops. Some specimens are then analyzed after being slaughtered and one of these tested positive for Nile fever.
As soon as it received confirmation of the positivity to the crow virus, the Prevention Department of the Asl of Oristano sent a communication to the mayor of Solarussa with the proposal for an ordinance to strengthen the prevention and protection measures , already activated with the beginning of the summer season by the Oristano health company and, in particular, by the Prevention Department itself.
THE VIRUS – The West Nile virus, transmissible from infected birds to humans or other animals through mosquito bites, develops asymptomatically in 80% of cases, causes flu-like symptoms in 20% (fever, headache, nausea and vomiting) and in a percentage lower than 1% causes encephalitis or meningoencephalitis.
Just yesterday the Higher Institute of Health (ISS) had reported the first case of the year on a man, in the province of Parma.
PRECAUTIONS – «No alarmism. The situation is under control », assured the director of the Hygiene and Public Health Service of ASL 5, Valentina Marras . «It is important that citizens, especially the elderly and frail, protect themselves by adopting a series of precautions. In the first place it is necessary to avoid stagnant water, where mosquito larvae proliferate. For this it is necessary to frequently empty saucers of flowers, buckets, tires, barrels; change the water in pet bowls often; keep paddling pools empty or cover them when not in use; treat manhole covers and rainwater drainage wells, drainage and stagnation areas with larvicidal products».
(Unioneonline/vl)
