The number of West Nile virus infections in Greece this year continues to rise with 23 additional locally acquired cases recorded over the past week, the National Public Health Organisation (EODY) announced.
Since the start of the surveillance period and up to 5 August, a total of 65 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed in Greece. Of these, 54 patients developed central nervous system (CNS) complications – including encephalitis, meningitis and/or acute flaccid paralysis – while 11 patients experienced mild symptoms or no CNS involvement.
During the past week alone, 23 new locally acquired cases were diagnosed and reported. In total, six deaths have been recorded among patients aged over 65, who developed CNS complications associated with the infection.
The announcement said that 20 patients were currently hospitalised, including eight in intensive care units (ICUs) and four in high-dependency units (HDUs).
Up until Wednesday, West Nile virus infections in 2026 have been recorded and investigated in 25 municipalities across 10 regional units in the regions of Attica, Thessaly and Central Macedonia. The affected regional units are: East and West Attica, North, Central and South Athens, Karditsa, Larissa, Trikala, Pella, and Serres.
