Virus culprit tracked down
Scientists said that they have found which species of mosquito in northern Greece is spreading the West Nile virus, which claimed an eighth life yesterday. Experts at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki have been studying mosquito samples for the last few days and found that the species that is transmitting the virus is the Culex pipiens of the culex genus. Culex mosquitoes are known to carry a number of other diseases, such as filariasis, Japanese encephalitis and avian malaria. They are often found in cities and feed off birds, which are the main carriers of the West Nile virus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) said that an eighth person has died after contracting the disease but did not release further details. The number of people who have the West Nile virus rose to 92 after another 15 were diagnosed with the illness yesterday. However, 44 of these are no longer receiving hospital treatment.
