(Adnkronos) – Twelve European countries have reported autochthonous cases of West Nile virus since the beginning of the year. This was announced by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in a note, urging the continent to strengthen measures to combat mosquitoes, the main vectors of the virus in question. Italy and Greece have the highest number of cases, 311 and 157 respectively: the other affected countries are Albania, Austria, France, Germany, Kosovo, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Spain.
The infections are distributed across 99 European regions, 21 of which have reported the presence of the virus for the first time: in the same period in August 2025, infections concerned 67 regions in nine countries, explains the ECDC. The expansion of transmission and the spread of invasive mosquito species “demonstrate why Europe must strengthen its control capacity” over such insects, writes Celine Gossner, head of food, water, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases at the agency, in the statement. “For effective mosquito control, we need close cooperation in Europe and an integrated approach that combines monitoring, community involvement, and targeted solutions that take environmental impact into account.”
The virus, transmitted by Culex genus mosquitoes already widely spread in Europe, can cause flu-like symptoms and, in more severe cases, tremors, high fever, coma, meningitis, and encephalitis. The ECDC has also reported that the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a potential vector of dengue and chikungunya, is now established in 16 European countries, a figure that has doubled compared to 12 years ago. In Europe, most human infections occur between late spring and autumn, with a peak between July and September.
