First outbreak of the West Nil virus in Berlin: Birds, humans and horses could suffer serious consequences

First outbreak of the West Nil virus in Berlin: Birds, humans and horses could suffer serious consequences

The West Nil virus was demonstrated in Berlin. Although birds are mainly affected, people and horses can also suffer serious consequences of infection.

The Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection in Berlin announced that two cases of West Nil virus were discovered last week. It is assumed that the virus now occurs throughout Berlin.

The affected animals were two hawks. Her bodies were examined in the Landeslabor Berlin-Brandenburg and the findings were confirmed by the Friedrich Loeffler Institute.

The West Nil virus originally comes from Africa and first appeared in Germany at the end of August 2018. It is transmitted by mosquitoes that feed on blood. The virus mainly infects birds, whereby certain species are particularly receptive. In rare cases, it can also be transferred to horses and humans, but usually do not spread from them.

This outbreak of the West Nil virus is the first in Berlin in this mosquito season and the third in Germany as a whole.

Infection with the West Nile virus is in most cases without symptoms in humans. Certain types of birds fall ill and die more often than others. However, the virus is not harmless. In individual cases, it can cause symptoms of illness in horses and humans that resemble flu. Some courses of the infection are accompanied by brain inflammation and corresponding neurological symptoms.

Especially in horses, neurological impairments are often not reversible. Vaccines that are approved for horses are available to protect against the West Nil virus.