West Nile virus in Europe: update 1

In the week ending 23 August 2023, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported continuing transmission of West Nile virus (WNV) in European countries. Cases were reported by Italy (79, including 3 deaths), Greece (10, including 3 deaths), France (6), Hungary (6), and Romania (3, including 2 deaths) and Serbia (15).

From the beginning of the 2023 transmission season to 23 August 2023, ECDC has reported reported 268 cases of WNV infection in European countries. Cases have been reported from: Italy (135, including 6 deaths), Greece (58, including 8 deaths), France (13), Hungary (11), Romania (9, including 3 deaths), Germany (2), and Spain (1), Serbia (38) and North Macedonia (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 to affected areas 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 West Nile virus transmission may need to wait or be tested for the virus before their blood is accepted.

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

For further information see TRAVAX West Nile Fever page.