Europe faces record number of infections with dangerous virus
A record number of West Nile virus infections have been registered in the countries of the European Union. The infection is spreading to the north of Europe, covering territories where human cases had not previously been recorded. The largest number of cases has been detected in Italy, and in Belgium local human transmission of the virus was confirmed for the first time.
Politico reported this on October 15, citing new data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
As of October 7, 1,715 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus have been registered in EU countries — the highest figure in the history of observations. Since the beginning of the season, 130 people have died from the infection.
The most infections have been recorded in Italy — 748. Greece reported 445 cases, and France — 144. For the latter two countries, this season has become a record in terms of the number of registered diseases.
Of particular concern to European epidemiologists is the spread of the virus to the north of the continent.
In the Netherlands, 59 human cases were identified in 2026. Belgium registered 15 cases — for the first time in the history of observations, infections occurring directly on its territory were confirmed.
According to ECDC, the appearance of the virus in new northern regions indicates an expansion of its circulation area. Experts expect this trend to continue in subsequent years.
However, the record number of infections does not mean the virus has become more dangerous. The European Centre has not found signs of an increase in disease severity: the proportion of hospitalizations, neurological complications, and fatal cases remains below the average indicators of the previous decade.
West Nile virus is transmitted primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes of the Culex genus. They become infected from birds, in whose bodies the pathogen circulates. Humans and horses can also become ill, but ordinary contact with an infected person does not lead to transmission of the virus.
In about 80% of infected people, the disease is asymptomatic. In others, elevated temperature, headache and muscle pain, weakness, nausea, and skin rash may appear.
In less than 1% of cases, severe damage to the nervous system develops, including meningitis and encephalitis. Elderly people and patients with weakened immunity are at greatest risk of such complications. There is still no specific treatment for the infection in humans.
ECDC specialists recommend that residents and travelers in affected regions use mosquito repellents, wear covered clothing in the evening hours, and install mosquito nets on windows.
The centre notes that with the onset of autumn, conditions for the spread of the virus become less favorable. However, additional cases of the disease may be detected in the coming weeks.
European health authorities urge countries to strengthen surveillance of the infection, control mosquito populations, and establish information exchange between medical and veterinary services.
For Kurs.com.ua, the topic has an independent continuation: as early as August, European epidemiologists warned of an increase in infections, but new data confirmed a record scale of the season and the spread of the infection to previously unaffected territories.
