THE HAGUE, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said Monday that a West Nile virus (WNV) infection has been confirmed in a blood donor in the Netherlands, marking the country's first confirmed locally acquired human case since 2020.
The individual lives in Utrecht province and has not recently traveled abroad, making it likely that the infection was acquired in the Netherlands, RIVM said in a statement.
"The virus was detected in the donor, who had mild symptoms, using a laboratory test (PCR)," RIVM added.
RIVM said the virus has also been detected in a horse and a bird in other parts of the country, indicating active transmission through local mosquito populations.
Following the newly confirmed human case, Sanquin, the nonprofit organization responsible for the Dutch blood supply, has designated Utrecht province and other related region as WNV risk areas for blood safety. Blood donations from these areas, including those from donors residing there, will be screened for WNV.
Despite the latest findings, RIVM emphasized that the overall risk of contracting West Nile fever in the Netherlands remains very low.
According to RIVM, the disease caused by WNV is known as West Nile fever. Most people infected with the virus develop no symptoms. About 80 percent of infections are asymptomatic, while around 19 percent cause flu-like symptoms and about one percent can lead to neurological symptoms. ■