We have identified you may not be viewing TRAVAX optimally because the browser you are using is unsupported - click here.

placeholder="Enter search term...">
Suitcase

West Nile Virus in Europe (Update 3)

02 October 2017

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC Linkreports that West Nile virus (WNV) continues to be transmitted in Europe.

From the beginning of the 2017 transmission season to 28 September 2017,WNV has been reported in Italy (49 cases), Greece (47 cases), Romania (45 cases), Hungary (16 cases) and Austria (4 cases). In the surrounding area, WNV has been reported in Serbia (36 cases), and Israel (9 cases).

There have been 15 deaths from WNV in Europe since the start of the 2017 transmission season in Romania (7), Greece (5), Hungary (1), Italy (1) and Serbia (1).

Advice for Travellers

WNV is present in many countries across the world but the risk to travellers is low.

All travellers should be advised to practice Mosquito Bite Avoidance, especially from dusk till dawn during peak transmission times and when epidemics are known to be occurring.

No vaccine is available against WNV.

NOTE: UK Blood Transfusion Services accept donation from travellers returning from areas where there is a risk of West Nile Fever, provided the blood is tested negative for WNV.

  • It is important donors inform the transfusion services about all recent travel outside the UK so the blood can be tested for WNV, as this is not a routine screening test.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service have produced a leaflet which details information about blood donation after travel:

For further advice see West Nile Fever.