West Nile virus (WNV) infection is a mosquito-borne zoonosis. The virus is transmitted among birds via the bite of infected mosquitoes and incidentally humans and other mammals may become infected.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 21–27 April 2024 and includes updates on respiratory virus epidemiology in the EU/EEA, West Nile virus, SARS-CoV-2 variant classification and Cholera.
As of 4 January 2024, 728 human cases of West Nile virus infection were reported, of which 709 were locally acquired and 19 were travel-associated. In 2023, seven EU countries reported 153 outbreaks among equids and eight EU countries reported 251 outbreaks among birds.
Distribution of human West Nile virus infections in NUTS 3 or GAUL 1 regions of the EU/EEA and neighbouring countries during 2013-2023, as of 4th January.
Distribution of human and animal West Nile virus infections in NUTS 3 or GAUL 1 regions of the EU/EEA and neighbouring countries during the 2023 season, as of 4th January.
During the 2023 West Nile virus transmission season, and as of 4 January 2024, 709 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus infection, including 67 deaths, were reported by nine European Union countries.
Since the beginning of the 2023 transmission season and as of 6 December 2023, EU/EEA countries have reported 707 human cases of WNV infection in Italy (336), Greece (162, of which 1 with unknown place of infection).
Weekly updates with the latest reports on West Nile virus cases in Europe. Interactive maps and tables updated every Friday, during the transmission season.