​The first human case of West Nile fever in the EU/EEA has been reported this week. Greece reported one probable case in the Attiki region, more precisely in the eastern part of the region, on 16 July.

​Twelve new cases of West Nile fever were detected in the EU in the week to 15 August 2013. Austria reported its first confirmed case though the place of infection is still under investigation.

​Twelve new cases of West Nile fever in the European Union this week, 3 in Italy and 9 in Greece.

​During the past week, 26 new cases of West Nile fever were detected in the EU, which is the highest number of new cases for a week for the 2013 season so far.

​The West Nile fever season, as expected, is currently showing a peak with the number of cases reported and newly affected areas increasing.

​​Since 5 June, ECDC has published on its website weekly updates on spatial distribution of West Nile fever cases in the European Union and neighbouring countries. Cases reported in the EU were autochthonous human WN fever cases (neuro-invasive and non neuro-invasive), meeting laboratory criteria as per EU case definition (Directive 2008/426/EC) and all reported cases outside the EU.

2014, the focus of World Health day was on vector-borne diseases. World Health Day is a worldwide initiative celebrated every year on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.

Since last week ECDC has started collecting information about West Nile fever cases in Europe, for the 2014 transmission season. The first seasonal surveillance maps, published this week, present an overview of West Nile fever situation in Europe, as of 5 June 2014.