West Nile virus in Europe in 2020 - human cases, updated 10 September 2020

Between 4 and 10 September 2020, EU Member States reported 14 human cases of WNV infection, all by Greece. All cases were reported from areas that have been affected during previous transmission seasons. This week, three deaths were reported by Greece. No human cases of WNV infection or deaths were reported from EU neighbouring countries.

On 3 September 2020, German public health authorities reported the first human autochthonous WNV infections in Germany during this transmission season. On 10 September, further human WNV infections were reported. In total nine were reported from Leipzig (7), Meissen (1) and Berlin (1). Further suspected cases are being investigated. Virus circulation in birds has been documented since July 2020 in Germany, in a similar area as 2019. As none of the human WNV infections and outbreaks among birds in 2020 have been reported through TESSy and ADNS, respectively, so far, they are currently not represented on the maps and in the Surveillance Atlas.

Since the start of the 2020 transmission season and as of 10 September 2020, EU Member States have reported 173 human cases of WNV infection and 15 deaths through TESSy: Greece (91, including 12 deaths), Spain (49, including 3 deaths), Italy (29) and Romania (4). All cases were reported from areas that have been affected during previous transmission seasons. No cases have been reported from EU-neighbouring countries.