Of the West Nile virus, which was fatal to Mira Furlan, only 1% of people develop severe symptoms
Although the official cause of death of the famous actress Mira Furlan has not been announced yet, the Croatian media report that they received information from a source close to the actress that she had been suffering from the West Nile virus for a long time, which was transmitted to her by an infected mosquito.
Mira Furlan's last post: The night is clear and the Milky Way seems so close. I will go there soon
The virus is transmitted to humans and other mammals by the bite of an infected mosquito, but it is not transmitted from person to person. The disease appears in the summer and autumn months, and in humans in 70-80 percent of cases it passes without symptoms.
In about 20% of cases, the disease presents with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, exhaustion, and muscle and joint pain.
Only 1% of patients can develop a more serious manifestation of the disease if the virus infects the central nervous system and in time develops symptoms of meningitis or encephalitis, ie inflammation of the brain.
Older people who already have other chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease or immunosuppressed people are at higher risk of developing the disease. Patients are treated symptomatically and most recover without permanent consequences.
The virus is rare in Europe, but the number of cases has increased in recent years.