West Nile virus cases in Europe surpass 1,000

The number of locally acquired West Nile virus infections recorded across Europe has surpassed one thousand this season, health surveillance data show. Until September 3, a total of 1,086 cases were reported across 15 countries, with a notable surge in recent weeks.

At the beginning of August there were slightly more than 240 cases reported in seven European countries; since then the distribution has widened and totals have climbed. Italy has reported the highest caseload with 516 infections, followed by Greece with 284 and Spain with 88.

Geographic spread and surveillance gaps

Overall, 144 distinct areas across Europe have registered West Nile activity, including 62 areas in Italy. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has cautioned that reported figures likely understate the true extent of transmission because of differences in surveillance and testing between countries.

West Nile virus circulates primarily among wild birds and is spread by mosquitoes; infected mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans. According to the German Robert Koch Institute, roughly 20 percent of infected people develop a flu-like illness, while only about 1 percent experience severe neurological symptoms.

For most people, West Nile fever resolves without complications, but long-term consequences are relatively common among patients who develop the severe form of the disease, health authorities warn. Public-health agencies in affected countries continue targeted mosquito surveillance and awareness campaigns to limit further spread.

Photo: EPA/JEFFREY ARGUEDAS *** Local Caption *** 52564937