Exotic disease in Hungary: no cure, no vaccine, extremely dangerous for the elderly and children

The affected middle-aged lady had not travelled abroad, nor had any relatives or close acquaintances who visited distant countries to catch this exotic disease. She was infected locally, allegedly by a native Hungarian mosquito species, which may have become a carrier after feeding on the blood of predatory birds carrying the West Nile fever virus.

Why is West Nile fever dangerous?

The West Nile fever is considered an exotic disease in Hungary, although it was first identified not along the Nile River but in Uganda back in 1937. However, it caused an epidemic in Egypt in 1950, which gave rise to the common name. Nowadays, partly due to the impact of climate change, it has become quite widespread across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Anna Nagy, a biologist at the National Public Health and Medical Officer Service (NNGK), told RTL Klub that 80% of infected individuals show no symptoms or only experience flu-like symptoms. However, in 20-30% of cases—especially among the elderly and children—the illness may take a more severe course, manifesting with the following symptoms:

• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• High fever
• Intense headache
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Neck stiffness
• Loss of consciousness

Without proper treatment, the disease can be fatal; statistics indicate that 8-10% of severe cases result in death.