West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks have now been reported in 16 European countries, with new figures from the Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro website showing serious numbers of cases in six countries over the last month, including a number of deaths.
WNV is a type of flavivirus, similar to dengue or Zika, that can cause a potentially serious infection in humans. Most people infected with WNV do not have any symptoms or experience a very mild illness and fully recover. If symptoms are present, they are usually mild; a flu-like illness with fever, headache, muscle pain and a red, bumpy rash.
However, about one in 150 people infected with WNV develop a more serious, potentially fatal illness, with a high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, muscle weakness, trembling, convulsions and coma. Meningitis (inflammation of the protective lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (brain inflammation) or acute flaccid paralysis (weak/floppy limbs) can also occur.
Latest outbreaks across Europe
In 2026, up to 23 September, 4 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Germany. Cases have been reported from Berlin, Leipzig Kreisfreie Stadt and Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis.
44 cases of West Nile virus, including 5 deaths, have been reported in the Netherlands. Cases have been reported from South Holland, Utrecht, North Holland, North Brabant, Gelderland and Overijssel provinces.
In France 117 cases of West Nile virus have been recorded in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, Occitanie, Ile-de-France, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire.
North Macedonia has seen 69 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in North Macedonia, in 5 areas. Up to 23 September, 2 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Kosovo and 91 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Romania, across 22 areas.
Affected areas and risk groups
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's latest update shows that 86 areas affected by West Nile virus (WNV) have been identified in 16 countries across Europe. These are Italy, Greece, Romania, France, the Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Croatia, North Macedonia, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Kosovo, Albania and Cyprus.
Travel Health Pro said: “Some people, including older travellers, those with long term health problems and anyone with a weakened immune system (immunosuppression) are more at risk of getting seriously ill.
“There is no specific drug or treatment for WNV infection. Supportive care in a hospital is essential for people with severe WNV. While a bite from an infected mosquito is the commonest way to catch WNV, there are rare reports of non-mosquito spread, including during a blood transfusion or organ transplant.”
Prevention advice
The only way to reduce the risk of getting infected is by avoiding mosquito bites as much as possible.
Key points to reduce insect and tick bites include avoiding areas of stagnant or standing water, where mosquitoes are likely to breed; keeping to footpaths and avoiding long grass when walking to avoid tick bites; checking the body for ticks after outdoor activity and removing them promptly.
Wearing loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and long trousers tucked into socks can help, and clothing can be sprayed or impregnated with insecticide or purchased pre-treated to reduce biting through clothing. Insect repellents should be used on exposed skin.
In areas with vector-borne diseases, use air conditioning where available or sleep in screened accommodation, under a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide. Insecticide vaporisers can be used to inhibit mosquito bites and mosquito coils can be used outdoors (they are not recommended indoors).
For those staying long-term in areas with vector-borne diseases it is possible to reduce mosquito breeding sites around the home by removing any pools of water in ditches, plant pots, gutters, drains and rubbish collected in the area.
