Spent time in these Budapest districts or Szeged? You might have contracted West Nile virus

If you spend more than one day in districts 16 or 22 of Budapest, or in Szeged, you cannot donate blood for 30 days. The risk of West Nile virus (WNV) is high in these places.

Asian tiger mosquitoes might cause West Nile virus

A man in district 16 was unable to donate blood because of tiger mosquitoes. He was refused because of the possible presence of West Nile virus, which is spread by tiger mosquitoes. The same applies to people living in district 22 and Szeged, Blikk reports.

“One of the questions was whether I had recently stayed in district 16 for more than one day. The next question was whether I had been bitten by mosquitoes recently, and of course I had to answer yes, because I come out into the garden and I get bitten by mosquitoes morning, noon and night. And the doctor told me that I couldn’t give blood, and that I should come back in 30 days,”

Imre Gyöngyösi recalled what happened in the RTL News (RTL Híradó) programme.

Widespread in August and early September

The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) can spread the virus that causes West Nile fever, which has been present in Hungary for years. Biologist Kornélia Kurucz said that the reason behind the ban on blood donations is to prevent the transmission of the pathogen by blood donors. According to the biologist, West Nile fever is at its most widespread in late August and early September.

The common house mosquito (Culex pipiens) can also spread this pathogen. So, the fact that the tiger mosquito poses a higher risk is no reason to panic. The mosquito causes discomfort with its bite, but it becomes dangerous if it also carries the pathogen.

In most cases, the infection causes no symptoms. But in up to 20 percent of cases it can lead to meningitis or encephalitis. According to the National Blood Service (Országos Vérellátó Szolgálat), if you spend more than a day in districts 16 or 22, you should not donate blood for 30 days because of the risk of the West Nile virus.

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