Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2019 19:32:52 +0200 (METDST)

Athens, Aug 10, 2019 (AFP) - Greece on Saturday battled over 50 wildfires nationwide, including a major blaze near Athens, in a dangerous mix of high temperatures and strong winds unseen in nearly a decade.   The fire department said it had mobilised more than 450 firemen and 23 aircraft nationwide to tackle the fires, including one on the island of Elafonissos and two around Marathon, near Athens.   A camping site and a hotel on Elafonissos and a children's summer camp near Marathon were evacuated as a precaution, state news agency ANA reported.

Marathon is a short distance from Mati, the coastal resort where last year 102 people died in Greece's worst fire disaster.   Temperatures in some areas are expected to hit 40 degrees Celius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday, accompanied by gale force winds.   On Friday, civil protection chief Nikos Hardalias said it was the first time since 2012 that the country had faced such a mix of high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity.   "We are called upon to manage extreme weather conditions over the next three days... we must all be careful," Hardalias told reporters as he placed emergency services on high alert.
Date: Fri 2 Aug 2019
Source: French.Cnina.org.cn [in French, trans. Corr.SB, edited]
<http://french.china.org.cn/foreign/txt/2019-08/02/content_75057774.htm>

Two people over 80 were the 1st victims of West Nile virus in Greece this year [2019], according to the weekly epidemiological surveillance report published by the National Public Health Organization (EODY).

From the beginning of epidemiological surveillance until today [2 Aug 2019], 25 cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed and studied in Greece. In 17 of the patients reported, the central nervous system (CNS) was affected (encephalitis and/or meningitis/acute flaccid paralysis), while 8 had mild symptoms, such as fever.

The median age of patients with CNS symptoms is 77 years old. Of the 25 patients, 10 are hospitalized.

The areas where virus cases have been recorded in the country are Pieria, Katerini, Pella, Xanthi, Kavala, Larissa, Karditsa as well as East Attica and Mesogia.

West Nile virus is spread mainly through the bites of infected mosquitoes, experts say.

The implementation of mosquito control and personal protection programs is most appropriate for controlling the disease, the EODY noted.
====================
[Greece has had both human and equine cases of West Nile virus in recent years. Mosquito control can be difficult and expensive, especially over such a broad geographic area. For humans, the best preventive measure is avoidance of mosquito bites. There is a vaccine for equine animals, but not for humans. - ProMED Mod.TY]

[HealthMap/ProMED map available at:
Greece: <http://healthmap.org/promed/p/83>]
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2019 14:22:20 +0200 (METDST)

Athens, Aug 3, 2019 (AFP) - Another earthquake shook Greece on Saturday, this time off the Aegean island of Karpathos, the Greek Geodynamic Institute said, although there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.    The epicentre of the 4.8-magnitude quake, which occurred at 0951 GMT, was 71 kilometres (44 miles) off the coast of Karpathos at a depth of around 10 kilometres, the institute said.    It came just three days after a 5.2-magnitude quake on the island of Crete and just under a week after a 4.2-magnitude tremor some 20 kilometres northwest of Athens.

Greece lies on major fault lines and is regularly hit by earthquakes, but they rarely cause casualties.   In 2017, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake killed two people on the island of Kos in the Aegean sea, causing significant damage.   In 1999, a 5.9-magnitude quake left 143 people dead in Athens and the region northwest of the capital.
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2019 18:39:43 +0200

Athens, July 28, 2019 (AFP) - An earthquake jolted Athens on Sunday although there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.   According to early reports from the Greek Geodynamic Institute, the 4.2-magnitude quake's epicentre was 23 kilometres (14 miles) northwest of Athens.   It is believed to have been an aftershock of the strong tremor that hit the city on July 19, knocking out phone and cellphone service.

According to the institute, that tremor was a 5.1-magnitude quake with an epicentre 23 kilometres (14 miles) northwest of the Greek capital.    There is "no reason for  concern. It is a normal aftershock of the 5.1 quake," the institute's director Akis Tselentis told Athens News Agency.   Scientists had said they were expecting an 4.0-magnitude aftershock.

Greece lies on major fault lines and is regularly hit by earthquakes, but they rarely cause casualties.   In 2017, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake killed two people on the island of Kos in the Aegean sea, causing significant damage.   In 1999, a 5.9-magnitude quake left 143 people dead in Athens and the region northwest of the capital.
Date: Thu 25 Jul 2019
Source: Xinhua [edited]
<http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/26/c_138258322.htm>

The number of people infected by the West Nile virus in Greece has risen to 10, the National Public Health Organization (NPHO) announced on Thursday [25 Jul 2019].

According to NPHO, 5 cases were recorded in only the past 5 days, while the 1st confirmed case was in late June [2019]. There [have been] no deaths linked to the virus so far.

It noted that the patients were all over 50 years old. The cases were reported in areas of northern Greece, while the Attika region was just added to the list.

The virus is reported to use wild birds as a main reservoir and was passed to humans via mosquito, rather than from or between infected humans.

Greek experts advised the public to take precautions against mosquitoes. The higher risk group that may exhibit more symptoms [includes] elderly people, patients with a suppressed immune system, and those with chronic illness.

In 2018, a record of 316 people were infected by the virus in the country, resulting in 50 fatal cases.
**********************************
ECDC update
Date: Thu 25 Jul 2019
Source: ECDC [edited]
<https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/west-nile-fever/surveillance-and-disease-data/disease-data-ecdc>

Between [19 and 25 Jul 2019], 7 human cases [of West Nile virus; WNV] have been reported in Greece (5), Italy (1) and Romania (1). All cases are reported from areas that have had human cases reported in the previous transmission seasons. Romania reported one death this week.

Additionally, during the same period, no equine outbreak of WNV has been reported to the Animal Disease Notification System.

Since the beginning of the 2019 transmission season and as of [25 Jul 2019], 13 human WNV infections have been reported in EU Member States and EU neighbouring countries by Greece (10), Romania (2) and Italy (1). One death has been reported by Romania so far.

In addition, 2 equine outbreaks have been reported in Greece to the Animal Disease Notification System.
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[The West Nile virus activity is on the rise with a number of cases reported from Greece and also from Romania and Italy. Keeping in view the high number of cases detected in 2018, continued viral, animal and entomological surveillance can help in planning and implementation of preventive and control measures. - ProMED Mod.UBA]

[HealthMap/ProMED-mail map:
Greece: <http://healthmap.org/promed/p/83>]
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