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West Nile virus surge expands across Europe

Updated 39 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-29 09:48 UTC → 2026-09-29 17:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

By late September 2026, the West Nile virus outbreak has expanded across Europe, with the total number of locally acquired infections rising to 1,569. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports that this surge exceeds the total case numbers recorded in 2025, 2024, and 2022. Italy remains the most heavily impacted nation with 696 confirmed cases, with infections spread widely around Rome, Padua, and Milan. Greece follows with 355 cases. As of early September, 61 deaths have been attributed to the virus, with 49 of those fatalities occurring in Italy and Greece. Other significant infection counts include Spain (125), France (102), Romania (91), and North Macedonia (69). In Serbia, the Dr Milan Jovanović Batut Institute ~~recorded 46~~ has reported 53 confirmed cases ~~between June 1 and September 20, though~~ across 11 districts since the start of the surveillance season. Of these Serbian cases, 49 individuals developed a severe form of the illness. Belgrade has recorded the highest number of infections in the country with 20 cases, followed by the South Bačka district with nine. While the institute reports 53 cases, Professor Darko Nožić ~~suggests~~ has suggested official figures may significantly underrepresent the scale, estimating between 4,000 and 5,000 potential infections. Germany has documented four infections in Berlin, Leipzig, and the Rhein-Pfalz district. In the Balkans, the National Institute of Public Health (IKSHPK) in Kosovo confirmed seven positive cases between August 7 and September 18, resulting in two deaths. There is currently no vaccine available to prevent the disease, which is transmitted via mosquito bites.

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