West Nile virus detected in Dutch blood donor

A blood donor in the Netherlands has tested positive for the West Nile virus. Because the individual had not recently traveled abroad, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) believes the infection was contracted locally. This marks the first human infection in the country since 2020.

Sanquin, the blood bank, reported that the infected blood was administered to a patient before the infection was identified. Both the patient and their physician have been notified. While the virus is not transmitted through casual human-to-human contact, it can be spread via blood transfusions.

The virus is carried by birds and transmitted to humans and horses via common mosquitoes. Recent testing has confirmed the presence of the virus in a human, a horse, and a bird at various locations in the Netherlands, indicating that local mosquitoes are carrying the virus.

Sanquin is expanding its screening of blood donations to include West Nile virus testing for donors from identified risk areas, specifically the province of Utrecht and the Gooi and Vechtstreek region. While 80 percent of infected individuals show no symptoms, 19 percent develop flu-like symptoms, and 1 percent experience neurological complications.