Health authorities in North Macedonia reported that a fifth death related to West Nile virus was registered on Saturday in the country, which is carrying out extensive mosquito spraying operations.
According to the Ministry of Health, the Balkan country has recorded at least 43 cases of the mosquito-borne virus, most of them in the past three weeks. "Almost every day someone is admitted to hospital and the number in the clinic is around 20 to 21 people," said Fadil Cana, head of the Infectious Diseases Clinic.
Earlier this month, health authorities declared epidemics in several municipalities in the capital, Skopje, and surrounding areas. Health Minister Saso Klekovski called on citizens on Friday to take precautions and drain their swimming pools, and urged them to report dead birds, which are considered reservoirs of the virus, to the authorities.
In recent weeks, extensive aerial and ground mosquito spraying operations have been carried out in Skopje and other areas, especially around irrigation canals and bodies of water. West Nile virus was first recorded in the country in 2011, with 54 confirmed cases by the end of 2025.
According to the World Health Organisation, there are no approved human vaccines or specific treatments for the virus. In Europe, most human infections occur during mosquito season, which generally spans from late spring to autumn, with peak transmission between July and September.
