West Nile virus death toll in Netherlands rises to 9

The number of people who have died from West Nile virus in the Netherlands this year has risen to nine, according to the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) on Thursday.

The total number of cases has reached 56.

RIVM said 12 additional cases had been identified and four more people had died since its latest update Sept. 24.

Of the reported cases, 32 were recorded in South Holland, 12 in Utrecht, five in North Holland, four in North Brabant, two in Gelderland and one in Overijssel.

No cases were reported in the Netherlands last year.

The virus was detected in 14 additional horses and seven birds last week, bringing the number of infected horses this year to 150 and infected birds to 178.