West Nile virus cases rise across Europe with outbreaks in Macedonia and the Netherlands

West Nile virus epidemic mosquito-borne disease public health Europe

West Nile virus cases are rising across Europe, with significant outbreaks reported in Macedonia, Greece, and the Netherlands. In Macedonia, health authorities have recorded 58 cases and eight deaths as of September 8, 2026. The majority of these infections and fatalities have occurred in Skopje, primarily affecting men over the age of 60.

Greece has also seen a record-breaking year with 324 reported cases and 30 deaths. In the Netherlands, the number of human infections has reached 18, with three deaths reported so far in 2026. The virus has also been detected in animals in the Netherlands, including 58 reported cases in horses and 39 in birds.

Across Europe, the ECDC reported 1,086 locally transmitted cases in 15 countries as of early September. While most infected individuals do not show symptoms, a small percentage develop severe neurological complications. Health officials emphasize that the virus is transmitted via mosquito bites and that older populations or those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.

Entities

Departement Zorg · Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority · ECDC · Europe · Greece · Macedonia · NVWA · Netherlands · RIVM · Sanquin · Sanquin Research · Santé publique France

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Approximately 80 percent of infected individuals show no symptoms. www.gld.nl · dagblad070.nl · www.antaranews.com · www.viva.co.id
[● 4 SOURCES] The West Nile virus cannot be transmitted directly from person to person, though it can be spread via blood. www.gld.nl · dagblad070.nl · www.antaranews.com · www.viva.co.id
[● 2 SOURCES] A total of 39 birds have been reported with the virus this year. dagblad070.nl · www.gld.nl
[● 3 SOURCES] The total number of reported West Nile virus cases in horses has risen to 58. dagblad070.nl · www.gld.nl · www.antaranews.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Nine new human cases of West Nile virus have been reported since the last update on September 3. dagblad070.nl · www.gld.nl
[● 4 SOURCES] Human infections have been identified in Gelderland, Utrecht, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, and Overijssel. www.gld.nl · dagblad070.nl · www.antaranews.com · www.viva.co.id
[● 4 SOURCES] Three people have died from the virus in 2026. dagblad070.nl · www.gld.nl · www.antaranews.com · www.viva.co.id
[● 4 SOURCES] The total number of human West Nile virus infections in the Netherlands has reached 18. dagblad070.nl · www.gld.nl · www.antaranews.com · www.viva.co.id
[● 2 SOURCES] All eight deceased patients in Macedonia were men from Skopje over the age of 60. panoptikum.mk · trn.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] Italy reported the highest number of cases in Europe with 516. trn.mk
[○ 1 SOURCE] 15 European countries reported a total of 1,086 locally transmitted West Nile virus cases as of September 3, 2026. trn.mk
[● 2 SOURCES] As of September 8, 2026, Macedonia has recorded 58 cases of West Nile virus. panoptikum.mk · trn.mk