West Nile virus outbreak in Greece reaches 65 cases, 6 deaths

West Nile virus Greece 65 cases CNS involvement blood safety

Greece has recorded a total of 65 domestic West Nile virus infections up to 5 August 2026, including 23 new cases reported in the last week. Of these, 54 patients showed central‑nervous‑system involvement such as encephalitis, meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis, while 11 had mild or no neurological symptoms. Six deaths have occurred, all among patients over 65 years old. Twenty patients are hospitalized, eight in intensive‑care units and four in high‑dependency units. The cases span 25 municipalities across the regions of Attica, Thessaly and Central Macedonia, with the highest concentrations in Spata‑Artemida (11 cases) and Markopoulo Mesogaias (7 cases). The National Blood Transfusion Centre (EKEA) has introduced enhanced molecular testing of blood donations from affected and high‑risk areas and has reserved specific blood stocks. Italy has also reported 84 confirmed West Nile cases and two deaths, and mosquito surveillance in Abruzzo identified virus‑positive specimens in Pineto and Mosciano Sant’Angelo. North Macedonia reported seven suspected cases, three of which are in critical condition in intensive care, all patients over 60 years old.

Entities: Attica · Attica Region · Central Macedonia · Dr. Fadil Cana · Greece · Greek Ministry of Health · Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (EODY) · Hellenic National Blood Transfusion Center (EKΕA) · National Blood Center (EKAE) · National Blood Transfusion Centre (EKEA) · Thessaly · West Nile virus

Claims

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

[● 6 SOURCES] 54 of the cases presented central nervous system involvement such as encephalitis, meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis. (existing)
[● 4 SOURCES] The municipalities of Spata‑Artemida (11 cases) and Markopoulo Mesogaias (7 cases) have the highest numbers of infections. (EODY report)
[● 6 SOURCES] Six deaths have occurred among patients over 65 years old. (existing)
[● 6 SOURCES] Cases have been identified in 25 municipalities across Attica, Thessaly and Central Macedonia. (existing)
[● 6 SOURCES] Twenty patients are currently hospitalized, including eight in intensive care units and four in high‑dependency units. (existing)
[● 6 SOURCES] 11 cases had mild or no central nervous system symptoms. (EODY)
[● 6 SOURCES] A total of 65 domestic West Nile virus cases have been diagnosed in Greece up to 5 August 2026. (bacdfd03-0a97-452a-bd64-6ed477cbdc8c, dedaaad3-bf96-4c08-878a-4fd60603e5a3, 1fab9d91-1281-4c08-a6e4-7d71299c5424, 5deccb)
[● 6 SOURCES] 23 new West Nile virus cases were reported in the last week. (new)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Blood donations from affected and high‑risk municipalities are subject to enhanced molecular testing and specific blood stocks have been reserved. (existing)
[● 2 SOURCES] Italy has reported 84 confirmed West Nile virus cases and two deaths. (new)