An unusual early start and high number of locally acquired West Nile virus infections has been observed this year. ECDC assesses the epidemiological situation and the public health risk to the EU, in a rapid risk assessment published today.
During the 2017 transmission season, 204 human cases and 127 equine cases were reported in the European Union. This year, for the first time, ECDC included equine West Nile fever cases in its epidemiological updates.
In 2016, 225 human cases of West Nile fever have been reported in the EU: most cases were reported in Romania and Italy, Hungary and Romania reported a significant increase in number of cases compared to the previous season. Cyprus detected its ever first human case of West Nile fever.
On 4 July 2016, Russia reported one human case of West Nile Fever, in Rostovskaya oblast – the first European area with case reports this year. During the previous weeks six recent West Nile fever cases were reported in Israelemer
Forty-three West Nile virus cases were reported in EU during the past two weeks, which indicates a clear increase compared to a total of 54 cases during the whole 2016 transmission season.
This week ECDC has started the seasonal monitoring of West Nile fever and the first West Nile fever maps for the 2016 transmission season are published today.