Irakleia

Eight new cases of West Nile virus and two patient fatalities were reported in Greece over the last week, highlighting the dangers of mosquito bites.

This summer, a total of 11 cases have been reported to the National Public Health Organization, 10 of which were more serious due to central nervous system symptoms.

The Regional Authority of the Southern Aegean, the Soft Energy Applications Laboratory, the Center for Technological Research in Piraeus and the University of West Attica on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at the creation of a roadmap for the transformation of 10 remote Aegean islands into "smart islands" via state-of-the-art networking technology.

An investigation was being conducted on Wednesday into the circumstances that saw a passenger of the Blue Star Naxos ferryboat fall overboard and drown.

The man, whose age has been estimated at around 60, fell off the ferry into dark and cold waters some 4 nautical miles off the coast of Syros. He was found dead an hour later by the coast guard.