Three cases of West Nile virus infection were confirmed in Romania's Dolj county this summer, according to the local Public Health Department (DSP Dolj).

One of the infections was confirmed at a 63-year old woman from Craiova. She was admitted to the Victor Babes Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumology in the city on August 6, and transferred the next day to the Craiova Emergency County Hospital, according to a statement from DSP Dolj. The Cantacuzino Institute in Bucharest confirmed the West Nile infection after almost two weeks.

Another case was confirmed at a 50-year old woman from Craiova, who has been living in France. She was admitted to the Hospital for Infections Diseases in the city on August 18.

The first case was detected at a 46-year old man from Goiesti.

A total of 25 cases of infection with the West Nile virus have been registered in Romania since May, four times more than in the same period in 2015, according to DSP Dolj. Two of the patients infected with this virus died.

The West Nile virus is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Most people infected with this virus will have no symptoms, and about one in five individuals who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms, according to information posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Less than 1% of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness.

Romania records first West Nile virus death in four years

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com