West Nile virus in Europe (Update 1)

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports transmission of West Nile virus (WNV) in eight European countries.

Austria: Vienna area. 2 cases

France: Var. 1 case

Greece: Achaia, Chalkidiki, Karditsa, Trikala, Larisa, Lefkada, Pella, Serres, Thesprotia and Thessaloniki. 31 cases (5 deaths)

Hungary: Budapest and Hajdu-Bihar. 2 cases

Italy: Barletta-Andria-Trani, Ferrara, Mantova, Modena, Padova, Piacenza, Pordenone, Taranto and Treviso. 25 cases (2 deaths)

Romania: Bucharest. 1 case

Spain: Seville. 5 cases (1 death)

Serbia: Belgrade and Juzno-Backi. 2 cases

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.