West Nile virus in Europe in 2021 - infections among humans and outbreaks among equids and/or birds, updated 16 September 2021

Between 10 and 16 September 2021, European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries reported 11 human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection and no deaths related to WNV infections. Cases were reported by Italy (5), Romania (3), Hungary (2) and Germany (1). EU-neighbouring countries reported 1 fatal human case of WNV infection in Serbia.

Since the beginning of the 2021 transmission season and as of 16 September 2021, EU/EEA countries have reported 98 human cases of WNV infection in Greece (43), Italy (32), Romania (7), Spain (5), Hungary (5), Austria (3) and Germany (3) and 5 deaths in Greece (3), Spain (1) and Romania (1). EU-neighbouring countries have reported 13 human cases of WNV infection in Serbia (13) and 3 deaths in Serbia (3).

During the current transmission season, within the reporting countries, human cases of WNV infection were reported from 41 different NUTS 3 or GAUL 1 regions, of which the following regions reported human cases of WNV infection for the first time: Spree-Neiße in Germany and La Spezia in Italy.

Since the beginning of the 2021 transmission season, 10 outbreaks among equids and 1 outbreak among birds have been reported by EU/EEA countries. Outbreaks among equids have been reported by Spain (7) and Germany (3). One outbreak among birds has been reported by Spain.