Current situation

Since the beginning of the 2026 transmission season, and as of 8 July, 11 areas affected by West Nile virus (WNV) have been identified in five countries across Europe1.

These areas are located in Italy (five), North Macedonia (two), Romania (two), Greece (one) and Spain (one).

The five countries have reported 12 locally acquired2 human cases of WNV infection: Italy has reported six, North Macedonia two, Romania two, Greece one and Spain one case.

This week, five areas are reported as affected for the first time this season. The affected areas identified as of 8 July 2026 are listed in Table 1 and shown in Map 1 below.

Basis and purpose of this weekly overview

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) provides a weekly overview of areas affected by WNV in Europe, based on locally acquired human cases reported during the current transmission season. This overview can assist competent authorities responsible for substances of human origin (SoHO), in particular for blood and blood components, with decisions on the deferral or testing of donors who may have been exposed to WNV, in accordance with Commission Directives 2004/33/EC and 2014/110/EU.

The table and map are based only on human WNV infection data reported to EpiPulse Cases during the current transmission season. They do not include animal surveillance data.

For the purposes of this weekly overview, an affected area is an area where local transmission of WNV to humans has been identified through the reporting of at least one locally acquired human case during the current transmission season. In most instances, the first case reported in an affected area should be confirmed in accordance with the EU case definition. In specific situations, and at the discretion of the reporting country, a probable case may be used to designate an affected area when confirmation is not available within a reasonable timeframe. This weekly overview is intended to support the implementation of safety measures for donors of blood and blood components and other SoHO and should not be considered a comprehensive epidemiological assessment of WNV transmission in Europe.

More detailed information on the occurrence of WNV infection among humans in Europe, together with WNV outbreaks among equids and birds, is available in the joint monthly report produced by ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Table 1. Areas affected by West Nile virus during the 2026 transmission season as of 8 July, by country and NUTS3 or GAUL1 area

* ‘First reported this week’ indicates that the affected area was not included in the previous weekly overview.

Map 1. Geographical distribution of areas affected by West Nile virus during the 2026 transmission season as of 8 July

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  1. European Union/European Economic Area countries and selected EU-neighbouring countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo**, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye).

    **This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.↩︎

  2. Cases acquired within the reporting country.↩︎