Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

News

US hit by massive West Nile virus outbreak centred around Texas

BMJ 2012; 345 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e5633 (Published 21 August 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e5633

Rapid Response:

Re: US hit by massive West Nile virus outbreak centred around Texas

Dear Editors,

Extreme fund mismanagement, defective mosquito control, disorganized preventive policies, improper agricultural practices and political negligence have conjunctively led to continuous outbreaks of West Nile virus encephalitis in Greece. [3][5][7][8]

Expectedly, everyone denies responsibility, accusing someone else.

Millions of tourists, that visit Greece every year, might choose a different destination next year, after reading international West Nile virus warnings. [4][6][9][10]

Every summer, blood donations are halted due to West Nile virus outbreaks, leaving tens of millions of tourists that visit Greece at risk if an accident brings them in a public hospital. [1][2][8]

The amount of the economic damage to Greece’s tourism industry could rise to several billion pounds.

I believe Greece to have West Nile viruses re-established after decades due to bureaucratic inefficiencies! [4]

References

[1] http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_06/08/2012_455743

[2] http://digitaljournal.com/article/329388

[3] http://www.ssi.dk/English/News/News/2012/2012_08_EPI-NEWS%2028-33%20-%20...

[4] http://www.nathnac.org/pro/clinical_updates/wnv_greece_130812.htm

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_West_Nile_virus_outbreaks

[6] http://www.greek-islands-travel.co.uk/greek-holidays/mosquito-alert-for-...

[7] http://www.kenes.com/espid2012/abstracts/pdf/30.pdf

[8] http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/1001_MIR_West_Nil...

[9] http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/europe/greece.php

[10] http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/147517#.UH6WhLKX2So

Competing interests: No competing interests

17 October 2012
Stavros Saripanidis
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Private Surgery
Thessaloniki, Greece