Published on
21/08/2026 - 15:02 GMT+2
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned that Europe needs to strengthen mosquito surveillance and expand the tools available to control the insects as West Nile virus continues to spread and invasive mosquito species become established in new areas.
“The expansion of West Nile virus transmission as well as the spread of invasive mosquito species demonstrate why Europe needs to strengthen its mosquito-control capacity,” said Céline Gossner, ECDC expert in food, water, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases.
The warning comes as the summer transmission season enters its most active period. Six European regions have reported locally acquired West Nile virus infections for the first time this year, while 429 locally acquired cases had been recorded across nine European countries as of August 13, according to the ECDC. Transmission typically peaks in August and early September, meaning the tally is expected to rise.
