West Nile Virus Spreads Across Europe: 13 Dead and Cases Surge

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, West Nile virus is spreading rapidly across Europe, with confirmed infections now reaching 81 locally acquired cases across 35 different regions in six countries. The mosquito-borne virus primarily targets the central nervous system, causing severe complications such as meningitis and encephalitis, while Italy and Greece report the highest concentration of cases.

Italy currently reports the highest number of infections in the region with 46 cases distributed across 20 distinct regions, including major urban and tourist centers such as Milan, Florence, and Verona, as reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Greece follows with 21 recorded cases spanning six regions, predominantly concentrated within the Attica area. Additional infections include five cases each in Romania and North Macedonia, three cases in Spain around Alicante and Seville, and one confirmed case in France.

Severe Neurological Complications Reported in Greece

The Greek National Public Health Organization has expressed serious concern over the clinical severity of the disease among local patients. Out of 21 recorded patients in the country, 20 have developed severe central nervous system disorders, including encephalitis, meningitis, and acute flaccid paralysis. Only one patient experienced a mild form of the illness without dangerous complications.

While no deaths have been recorded in Greece, 13 patients remain hospitalized and under medical care. Fourteen of the country’s total cases were diagnosed within a single seven-day span. Health authorities are currently reviewing data for an additional suspected patient with a complex travel history, keeping that case out of official totals for now. Officials note that West Nile virus outbreaks have recurred regularly in Greece since 2010, indicating the pathogen has established a stable presence in the region.

Transmission Dynamics and Regional Surveillance

Wild birds serve as the primary reservoir for West Nile virus, while mosquitoes act as the main vectors transmitting the pathogen to humans. Regional weather patterns, insect population density, and bird migration routes heavily influence the speed and geographic scale of the outbreak. Because outbreaks are difficult to predict in advance, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control publishes weekly updates during the summer months to map affected territories and track the expanding transmission zones.