West Nile virus in Europe

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reported 36 human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in the week ending 2 August 2023. Cases were reported from Italy (25, including 1 death), Greece (8, including 2 deaths) and France (3).

This week, the following regions reported human cases of WNV infection for the first time since the start of this season: Imathia, Pella and Larissa (Greece), Gironde (France), Novara, Cremona, Mantova, Modena, Torino, Pavia, Lodi, Milano, Verona, Piacenza, Reggio nell’Emilia, Bologna and Ravenna (Italy).

From the beginning of the 2023 transmission season to 2 August 2023, European countries have reported 41
cases of WNV infection in: Italy (26), Greece (11), France (3) and Hungary (1).

West Nile virus is spread by mosquito bites and can cause a flu-like illness, sometimes leading to severe or life-threatening disease.

Advice for Travellers

Travellers should be advised to:

• practice mosquito bite avoidance measures at all times, especially at dusk and dawn during peak transmission times and when outbreaks are known to be occurring
• seek medical advice if they develop a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms with fever following travel to a risk area

There is no vaccine against West Nile virus.

Note for blood donors: those who have recently travelled to an area with WNV transmission may need to be tested for WNV before donating blood.

• see the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service website for further details

For further information see TRAVAX West Nile Fever page.