Five cases of West Nile fever confirmed in Russia

Five cases of West Nile fever have been confirmed in Russia's Astrakhan region, officials said. 

It was particularly reported that one woman was staying in intensive care, the condition of two other patients was evaluated as moderate, two others were recovering. Officials said that cases of West Nile fever were reported in Astrakhan, Volga and Kamyzyaksky regions. It is assumed that the infection could occur through a mosquito bite. 

A natural source of infection of West Nile virus are birds of aquatic and riparian habitat, as well as those who feed on the ground, including pigeons and crows. The infection is distributed through Culex mosquitos.