From the start of surveillance for West Nile virus infection through September 9, a total of 324 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed and reported in Greece, of which 217 cases presented with central nervous system manifestations (CNS, encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute flaccid paralysis), and 107 cases had mild symptoms.
Over the past week, 34 new domestic cases were diagnosed or reported.
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A total of 30 deaths have been recorded among patients infected with the virus who were over 65 years of age.
According to the National Public Health Organization (EODY), cases of West Nile virus infection in Greece have been recorded in 73 municipalities across the country, in 22 regional units, in the regions of Attica, Thessaly, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Peloponnese, Central Greece, and Crete, and specifically in the following regional units: Eastern Attica, Northern Athens, Western Attica, Western Athens, Central Athens, Southern Athens, Piraeus, Karditsa, Larissa, Trikala, Imathia, Thessaloniki, Pella, Pieria, Serres, Laconia, Euboea, Boeotia, Rethymno, Heraklion, Rodopi, and Evros. It is expected that additional cases will be diagnosed in the coming period, both in these same regions and in new ones. In particular, the Attica region has seen particularly intense circulation of the virus this year, with an increased number of cases compared to previous years in specific areas and regional units.
In addition to the aforementioned “affected” municipalities, where cases have been reported, the “Working Group for the Designation of Areas Affected by Vector-Borne Diseases” of the National Public Health Organization (EODY), after taking into account epidemiological and geomorphological data, has opined that the following municipalities are additionally designated as “high-risk”: Heraklion in the Northern Sector of Athens, Nea Smyrni and Palaio Faliro in the Southern Sector of Athens, Nea Filadelfia–Nea Chalkidona and Dafni–Ymittos in the Central Sector of Athens, Ilion in the Western Sector of Athens, Mouzaki in the Karditsa Regional Unit, Farkadona in the Trikala Regional Unit, Amphipolis in the Serres Regional Unit, Kalamaria, Neapoli–Sykeon, Pavlos Melas, and Oreokastro in the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area; Pydna–Kolindros in the Pieria Regional Unit; Kilkis in the Kilkis Regional Unit; Corinth in the Corinthia Regional Unit, Chersonissos in the Heraklion Regional Unit, and Tinos in the Tinos Regional Unit. In the “high-risk” municipalities, no human cases have been recorded during the current transmission period so far, but risk factors for imminent human-to-human transmission of the virus and the emergence of cases are present (e.g., proximity to affected municipalities, geomorphological data, and current and historical epidemiological data on the infection).
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Since the epidemiology of the virus is determined by many factors, the areas where the virus circulates and the potential areas where cases will be reported during each transmission period cannot be predicted with certainty. Therefore, the Hellenic Public Health Organization (EODY) recommends taking personal precautions against mosquitoes throughout the country during the entire mosquito season.
In the European Union and neighboring countries, during 2026, cases of infection with the DN virus have been reported—in addition to Greece—in: Italy, Romania, France, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain, Albania, Germany, Kosovo, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Cyprus.
Source: APE–MPE
