Fifth patient died of the West Nile fever

The West Nile fever claimed its fifth victim today – a 73 year old patient from the village of Dolno Lisice, east of Skopje.

The patient was treated for 22 days at the Infectious Diseases Clinic, and had serious prior health issues, said Clinic director Fadil Cana. Four additional patients are in difficult condition, Cana said, while about 16 more are hospitalized – most with confirmed infection, and several who are still being tested. Only one of them is younger, at 25 years of age, and 19 patients were confirmed sick with the virus, but have recovered and have been discharged.

Skopje authorities are spraying for mosquitoes, which carry the illness, especially around bodies of stalled water.