Macedonia so far has registered 43 West Nile virus cases. Two Skopje municipalities, Centar and Chair, have registered new cases, for the first time this year. The Skopje region has 34 risk areas, including 13 that are considered high risk, Macedonian Health Minister Sasho Klekovski reporters Friday.
Cases have also been registered in the Skopje municipalities of Centar and Chair for the first time.
The virus has also been confirmed in a dead raven in Skopje, which is the first registered case of a dead bird positive for West Nile fever. In the past period, there have been a large number of reports of dead birds, which are collected by the Food and Veterinary Agency for further examination.
Klekovski informed that the health authorities have mapped the areas with an increased risk of spreading the virus.
“Mosquitoes do not know municipal borders, they move from one to two kilometers. In Sopishte there is no risk, but there are mosquitoes. In Chucher Sandevo, as well. We are currently working with 34 risk areas, of which 13 are high risk,” said Klekovski.
According to the health minister, flowing rivers in which there are fish pose a lower risk, because the fish feed on mosquito larvae. Stagnant waters pose a much greater risk, especially those in which there is waste.
The irrigation canals in Skopje fields, excavations and the so-called dead parts of the rivers have been singled out as the most risky. Among the specific critical points are Serava in the area of Arachinovo and Butel, the canals in Jurumleri, as well as the canals in Drachevo, Batinci and Studenichani.
