Alex Trelinski
THE West Nile Virus which is transmitted to people via mosquito bites has now claimed five victims this summer in Sevilla province.
Andalucia’s Ministry of Health said that two infected patients- both from Coria del Rio- had recently passed away.
All of the five victims so far were aged 71 years and over, with numbers of reported infections running into the dozens in recent months.
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The Ministry said that in the last week, 10 new cases had been confirmed in Dos Hermanas, Coria del Río, Los Palacios, Villafranca, Gerena and Carmona.
Three of the new batch of people infected have already been discharged from hospital.
Mosquito traps monitoring the presence of the virus had detected it in the Sevilla municipalities of Almensilla, Los Palacios, Villafranca, Utrera, and Villamanrique de la Condesa.
In Cordoba province, the virus was confirmed in traps at Montalban and Puente Geni, while in Cadiz province, Benalup Casas Viejas and Vejer de la Frontera yielded positive results.
West Nile Virus was also detected in horses in Jerez de la Frontera and Ecija.
The Health Ministry has once again reminded individual municipalities about procedures to reduce the probability of the virus spreading through continuous weekly mosquito monitoring and pest control action.
