Two persons were infected with the Western Nile virus and hospitalised at the Tuzla Clinical Centre, the Public Healthcare Institute said on Wednesday.

The virus has been present in the region for the past several months with growing numbers of new cases and deaths reported primarily in Serbia, but Croatian health institutions are also reporting their own cases.

The two infected persons were registered in the city of Tuzla in late August and their health is not in a serious jeopardy.

“They both are undergoing a medical treatment and are clinically stable,” said epidemiologist Andrea Juric noting that citizens of the Federation (FBiH) entity, one of Bosnia's two semi-autonomous parts, are not under a serious threat of this virus.

The West Nile fever is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, that transmit the virus to humans after feeding on infected birds. In humans, the infection can occur through organ transplantation and blood transfusion. An incubation period of 3-14 days precedes symptoms, although most human infections are asymptomatic.