During the last week, 12 new domestic cases of West Nile virus and 3 deaths were diagnosed/reported, according to the EODY epidemiological report.

There have also been four imported cases of the infection in patients exposed to other countries abroad (three in Albania and one in Austria), which were not included in the further analysis.

From the beginning of the 2024 period, until 25/09/2024, a total of 192 domestic cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed and investigated in Greece, of which 143 cases presented manifestations from the Central Nervous System (CNS, encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute flaccid paralysis) and 49 cases had mild/no CNS manifestations.

A total of 30 deaths have been recorded in patients infected with the virus, aged over 60 years (median age of those who died: 81 years, range: 61 – 93 years). One additional death of a patient diagnosed with West Nile virus infection was attributed to another serious co-existing health problem (not included in the total number of deaths).

Cases of West Nile virus infection in Greece have been recorded in settlements, in 67 Municipalities of the country, in 29 Regional Units, and specifically in the Regional Units: Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala, Lefkada, Thesprotia, Preveza, Halkidiki, Pella, Pieria , Serres, Kilkis, Imathia, Rhodope, Drama, Evros, Xanthi, Kavala, Thassos, Achaia, Aitoloakarnania, Ilia, Argolis, Arcadia, Southern Sector of Athens, Central Sector of Athens, Eastern Attica, Fthiotida, Boeotia and in the Metropolitan Unit of Thessaloniki.

The EODY considers the diagnosis of further cases to be possible and expected in the coming period, and in this context, the timely implementation of appropriate integrated mosquito control programs and the adoption of personal protection measures against mosquitoes is deemed necessary.

In the European Union and neighboring countries, during the period 2024, cases of infection with the DN virus have been recorded – apart from our country – in: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo , Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.