Questions About West Nile Virus in Armenia Outnumber Answers: 'Fact'

The 'Fact' newspaper reports that many are observing that in Armenia, questions about the West Nile virus are more plentiful than answers, and the clarifications from the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention are causing even greater confusion.

On August 19, the Ministry of Health announced that a case of West Nile virus infection had been registered in Armenia, transmitted through a mosquito bite. As of August 21, the number of confirmed cases in Armenia had reached 58, four of whom were in serious condition. By August 23, the confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Armenia had risen to 75. Moreover, the center claims that one person has died from the West Nile virus, while some media outlets report that the number of fatalities is four.

Recently, Stepan Atoyan, the director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, held a press conference that did not alleviate public fears and doubts. If the virus was detected in five mosquitoes in the Aragatsotn region at the end of July, why weren't the public notified about it? Where did the infection come from in the Aragatsotn region, given that the West Nile virus has not been detected in neighboring countries? And why is the Ministry of Health suggesting that the virus could also appear in the Armavir and Ararat regions?

While the relevant authorities kept this information secret, the infection spread rapidly, infecting 58 individuals at once. Forty-one of them were hospitalized, with four assessed as being in extremely serious condition. Why is brain involvement diagnosed in half of the hospitalized patients with this virus in Armenia, when typically this illness presents asymptomatically in 80% of cases, and nervous system involvement, including meningitis and encephalitis, occurs in no more than 1% of cases?

Most importantly, why is there no discussion about the possibility of artificial dissemination of the West Nile virus, when this infection has never been characteristic of Armenia and has not caused mass illness? And no one is even attempting to raise questions regarding the potential involvement of Pentagon biological laboratories located within Armenia concerning this incident. For many years, numerous experts have sounded the alarm about these laboratories and the possible dangers they pose. Yet, Armenian authorities, along with the American side, persistently refuse to inform the public about what these institutions are engaged in within our country.

And finally, why are experts, doctors, and specialists in the field remaining silent about the West Nile virus? Why aren’t they demanding detailed conclusions regarding the issue or identifying risks? After all, we are talking about the national security of Armenia, and everyone should be interested in conducting maximum open and transparent discussions on this matter.