Greece records 42 West Nile infections, 4 deaths as cases surge

West Nile virus Greece Italy 42 infections 4 deaths

Greece’s public‑health agency (EODY) has confirmed a total of 42 West Nile virus infections as of 29 July 2026, including 37 cases with central‑nervous‑system involvement and five mild cases. Four patients, all over 65, have died from CNS complications. Twenty‑one new infections were reported in the last week, bringing the weekly total to 13 hospitalized patients (eight in regular wards and five in intensive care). The cases are spread across 21 municipalities in eight regional units, with 35 of them located in the Attica region. EODY has designated several municipalities as high‑risk areas and warned that further cases are likely in both affected and neighbouring zones.

In Italy, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) reported 84 confirmed human West Nile infections from February to 28 July 2026, including two deaths (one imported). Of these, 37 were neuro‑invasive, 27 presented with fever and 19 were identified through blood‑donor screening. The outbreak spans 12 regions, notably Lombardy, Veneto, Lazio and others. In the Lazio region, regional health authorities confirmed 13 cases, with six showing neuro‑invasive disease and two recent confirmations.

Both countries note that the virus is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes and stress the importance of mosquito‑control measures and personal protection, especially for older adults and those with underlying health conditions.

Entities: Amari municipality · Athens municipality · Attica · Attica (region, Greece) · Attica Region · Attica region (Greece) · Central Macedonia · Central Macedonia (region, Greece) · Central Macedonia region · EODY (Greek National Public Health Organization) · Greece · Greek Ministry of Health

Claims

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

[● 3 SOURCES] The infections were linked to recent travel to the Maldives and Zanzibar. (all)
[● 3 SOURCES] Health Minister Sasho Klekovski warned that Zika is harmful to pregnant women, dengue can cause hemorrhagic fever, and severe malaria may be fatal. (new)
[● 3 SOURCES] Four cases of malaria were reported, the first after a two‑year period with none. (new)
[● 10 SOURCES] Eight cases of West Nile virus were reported in North Macedonia. (new)
[● 3 SOURCES] Three cases of dengue fever were reported. (new)
[● 3 SOURCES] One case of Zika virus infection was reported. (new)
[● 10 SOURCES] One infected individual is about 40 years old; the remaining patients are aged 60‑70. (new)
[● 3 SOURCES] Authorities disinfected a 200‑metre radius around the homes of seven cases, while one person refused the procedure. (new)
[● 5 SOURCES] Approximately 80 % of West Nile virus infections are asymptomatic. (health ministry data)
[● 4 SOURCES] Most of the reported cases are autochthonous, indicating local transmission via the bird‑mosquito cycle. (all)
[● 8 SOURCES] All eight recorded patients had a severe neuroinvasive form of West Nile virus disease. (stated by health officials)
[● 4 SOURCES] Enhanced epidemiological and entomological surveillance, mosquito control, and personal protection are recommended. (all)