Greek authorities have stepped up fumigation in Athens as the country reported a "significant" rise in West Nile virus infections, which have killed nine people so far, the state health administration said Thursday.
The EODY agency said 45 new cases of the mosquito-borne virus had been recorded over the past week, raising total infections to 110 from the beginning of the year.
Out of these, 81 developed severe complications to the central nervous system and nine persons over the age of 65 have died, EODY said in a statement.
The virus can cause symptoms similar to those of the flu, but in extreme cases, it can result in tremors, fever, comas and a lethal swelling of the brain tissue known as encephalitis. It can also cause meningitis.
Infections are particularly intense in the greater Athens area, EODY said.
