Epidemiological summary

Since the beginning of 2026, and as of 24 June, two countries in Europe reported three human cases1 of West Nile virus (WNV) infection: Italy (two cases) and North Macedonia (one case).

The current report in Table 1 includes the number of probable and confirmed cases of WNV infections per NUTS3 region. However, these figures are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution as they may be revised by the countries as more information becomes available. For further details on case numbers, please refer to the joint monthly report, which offers a more detailed analysis.

Please note: The table and map in this report contain countries and areas where human West Nile virus infection cases were reported to EpiPulse Cases.

Introduction

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) provides a weekly overview of human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection to support the competent authorities responsible for blood safety. This overview can aid decisions on the deferral or testing of blood donors who may have been exposed to the virus, in accordance with Commission Directives 2004/33/EC and 2014/110/EU.

West Nile virus infection in humans is a notifiable disease at the EU level and cases are reported in accordance with the EU case definition. The table and map in this report show the countries and areas where human cases of WNV infection have been reported to the European surveillance portal for infectious diseases (EpiPulse Cases).

More information on the occurrence of WNV infection among humans in Europe2, as well as WNV outbreaks among equids and birds, is available in the joint monthly report produced by ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Here we present the weekly report as of 24 June 2026.

Overview of West Nile virus cases in EU/EEA and EU-neighbouring countries

Table 1. Countries and regions with locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus infections in 2026 as of 24 June.

* An ‘affected area’ or ‘risk area’ is defined as ‘a risk area with ongoing transmission of WNV to humans’. This means that at least one autochthonous human case of WNV has been reported as a result of local transmission in the area according to the agreed, standardised and disease-specific case definition. In exceptional circumstances, a probable case can be used to determine transmission, however, this should only apply in specific and agreed situations when a case cannot be confirmed within a reasonable time.

** Compared to the previous weekly report.

Spatial distribution of locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection in 2026 as of 24 June

Download the map of the distribution of locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection in 2026 as of 24 June.

Download the data

Download the West Nile virus surveillance dataset.

  1. Cases acquired within the reporting country.↩︎

  2. EU/EEA 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.

    ↩︎