West Nile virus cases quadruple in Greece since late July, health authorities report

The majority of the newly recorded cases have been concentrated in the greater Athens area, according to EODY data cited by Greek television and the Austrian Press Agency. Health officials have urged residents and visitors to use insect repellent, install window screens and remove standing water where mosquitoes can breed.

How the virus spreads and who is at risk

West Nile virus is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected mosquitoes and cannot spread directly between humans. Most infections are asymptomatic, but a small share of patients — particularly older adults and people with weakened immune systems — develop serious neurological illness such as meningitis or encephalitis, which can be fatal.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies West Nile virus as a re-emerging public health threat across southern Europe, where climate conditions have favoured the spread of the Culex mosquito species that carries it. The agency has advised national health systems to maintain surveillance and laboratory capacity during the summer transmission season.

Response measures and travel advice

Magiorkinis noted that the 2026 figures were comparable to outbreak years seen previously in Greece and elsewhere in the Mediterranean basin. He cautioned, however, that reporting delays meant the true case count was likely higher than the confirmed number, as milder infections often go undetected.

Greek authorities have stepped up mosquito-control operations in affected municipalities and are coordinating with regional governments to spray standing water and sewage treatment areas. EODY has also published guidance for travellers, including advice to wear long sleeves at dusk and dawn and to seek medical attention if fever or neurological symptoms appear after a mosquito bite.

Regional context and outlook

Beyond Greece, neighbouring Balkan and Mediterranean states have reported sporadic West Nile detections in animals and humans this summer, a pattern the WHO has linked to longer heat waves and changing rainfall patterns. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control publishes weekly updates on the virus during the high-risk season.

EODY said it would continue weekly case reporting until the end of the mosquito season in late autumn. Officials urged the public, including tourists planning late-summer holidays in the greater Athens area and other affected regions, to follow the recommended protective measures.