West Nile virus cases reach record levels in Europe as infections spread north

Europe has recorded its most intense West Nile virus season to date, as the mosquito-borne virus spreads into new parts of the continent. Euronews and Politico reported that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned on Thursday that the virus is moving further north. [1][4]

Outlets differ on the total death toll across the continent. Euronews reported that European Union countries have registered 1,715 locally acquired human cases and 130 deaths as of 7 October. However, The News International, The Detroit News, and TradingView reported that 141 people have died in Europe from the virus in 2026. [1][6][7][8]

The virus is now being detected in previously unaffected northern regions. Euronews reported recent detections in humans and animals in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Straits Times reported that Belgium has confirmed its first two deaths from the virus, while Yahoo reported two local human cases in south-west Germany. [1][2][3]

West Nile virus is a single-stranded RNA virus transmitted mainly through the bite of infected mosquitoes, primarily species of Culex. The virus primarily circulates between birds and mosquitoes, but it can cause disease symptoms in humans and horses. [1][9]

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control expects the northward expansion of the virus to continue as local circulation increases. [1]