Greece records 65 West Nile cases and six deaths as virus spreads across Europe

West Nile virus Greece outbreak 65 cases six deaths EODY

The National Public Health Organisation (EODY) reported that 65 West Nile virus infections have been confirmed in Greece from the start of the 2026 transmission season up to 5 August, including 23 new cases in the most recent week. Of these, 54 patients developed severe central‑nervous‑system complications such as encephalitis, meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis, while 11 cases were mild or asymptomatic. Six deaths have occurred, all among people over 65 years old with CNS involvement, and 20 patients remain hospitalised – eight in intensive‑care units and four in high‑dependency wards.

The infections have been identified in 25 municipalities across ten regional units, primarily in the Attica region, as well as in Thessaly and Central Macedonia. Attica shows the highest concentration of cases, with several municipalities designated as high‑risk areas. EODY continues enhanced surveillance and mosquito‑control measures and expects further cases in the coming weeks.

Across Europe, the virus is also circulating widely. Italy leads with 94 confirmed human cases, followed by North Macedonia and Spain with seven each, Romania with five, France with two and Germany with one. In total, 49 areas in seven European countries have reported West Nile activity during the summer of 2026.

Entities: Attica · Attica Region · European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) · Greece · Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (EODY) · Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY) · Italy · National Public Health Organisation (EODY) · West Nile virus

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 22 SOURCES] A total of 65 West Nile virus infections have been confirmed in Greece since the start of surveillance up to 5 August 2026. (EODY reports across multiple Greek articles)
[● 22 SOURCES] Twenty patients are currently hospitalized, including eight in intensive‑care units and four in high‑dependency wards. (EODY weekly update)
[● 4 SOURCES] A working group has designated several additional municipalities as high‑risk areas for future West Nile virus transmission. (EODY working group)
[● 22 SOURCES] Eleven cases were mild or asymptomatic with no central‑nervous‑system involvement. (EODY report)
[● 14 SOURCES] 23 new West Nile virus cases were reported in the most recent week. (All Greek articles and the European spread article mention the 23 new cases.)
[● 14 SOURCES] The infections have been identified in 25 municipalities across ten regional units, mainly in Attica, Thessaly and Central Macedonia. (All Greek articles and the European spread article list the geographic distribution.)
[● 14 SOURCES] Fifty‑four of the confirmed cases presented severe central‑nervous‑system manifestations. (All Greek articles and the European spread article state the 54 severe cases.)
[● 22 SOURCES] Six patients over 65 years old died from West Nile virus infection with central‑nervous‑system involvement. (EODY report)
[● 16 SOURCES] The Greek cases were identified in 25 municipalities across ten regional units in Attica, Thessaly and Central Macedonia. (EODY surveillance data)
[● 16 SOURCES] 54 of the Greek cases presented severe central‑nervous‑system manifestations. (EODY data reported in Greek articles)
[● 16 SOURCES] 23 new West Nile virus cases were reported in Greece during the most recent week. (EODY weekly report cited in Greek articles)
[● 3 SOURCES] Italy reported 94 confirmed human West Nile virus cases, the highest number in Europe for 2026. (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) data cited in international articles)