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West Nile virus cases surge across Europe, led by Italy and Greece
Europe is experiencing a significant rise in West Nile virus cases during the 2026 transmission season. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 1,285 locally acquired human cases have been reported across 15 countries as of September 10.
Italy has recorded the highest number of infections in Europe with 590 cases, followed by Greece with 319 and Spain with 104. In Greece, the annual case count has reached a record 324, resulting in 30 deaths. Health experts in Greece suggest that increased bird populations, specifically from the crow family, may be contributing to the virus's circulation.
In Italy, the Oristano territory has reported 27 West Nile cases and three deaths in 2026. Meanwhile, in Spain's Extremadura region, 43 cases and two deaths have been confirmed so far this year. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Entities
ASL 5 Oristano · ASP di Cosenza · AsNAS · Asl Napoli 2 Nord · Asl di Oristano · Dengue · Elena Nichetti · Elena Ostanel · European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control · Greece · Istituto Superiore di Sanità · Italy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [DISPUTED] Italy has confirmed 265 cases of Dengue and 594 cases of West Nile virus between January 1 and September 8, 2026. veja.abril.com.br · www.latinatoday.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] A Dengue outbreak involving 20 symptomatic cases was identified in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. www.versiliatoday.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] Thirteen Italian regions and autonomous provinces have not reached the 95% threshold for hexavalent vaccination. laltravoce.com · www.imgpress.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A new West Nile case was confirmed in a man over sixty in the province of Oristano. www.sardegnalive.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The number of West Nile infections in the Oristano territory in 2026 has reached 27. www.sardegnalive.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] The lethality rate for confirmed autochthonous neuroinvasive West Nile cases is 13.3%. veja.abril.com.br · www.latinatoday.it
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Four Dengue cases were identified in the province of Lecce, Puglia.
- [● 5 SOURCES] There have been 41 deaths recorded from West Nile virus in Italy during this period. veja.abril.com.br · www.latinatoday.it · www.bandab.com.br · www.sardegnalive.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] West Nile infections in the Oristano territory have reached 27 cases in 2026. www.sardegnalive.net
- [DISPUTED] Italy has reported the highest number of locally acquired West Nile cases in Europe with 590 infections. www.quotidianosanita.it · www.dnews.gr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Asl Toscana sud est region has confirmed 17 autochthonous West Nile cases, including 12 in the province of Arezzo. www.arezzonotizie.it
- [DISPUTED] Greece and Spain follow Italy in West Nile case counts with 319 and 104 cases respectively. www.quotidianosanita.it