RIGA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The first case of West Nile fever in Latvia has been detected in a dead bird in the laboratory of the Scientific Institute for Food Safety (BIOR), Animal Health and Environment, the LETA news agency reported on Friday.
West Nile virus was detected in a sample of a Eurasian goshawk, which was sent for investigation to establish the cause of death.
BIOR said West Nile fever is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects birds and horses, and less commonly other animal species. Birds are the most common host of the virus, but humans can also be infected, however the infection does not spread from person to person.
In most cases, the West Nile virus causes a mild acute febrile illness, similar to influenza, while in rare cases encephalitis symptoms can also develop. ■
