West Nile Virus: 58 New Cases Reported in One Week – High-Risk Areas Identified
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A total of 290 locally acquired cases and 24 deaths have been recorded in Greece since the beginning of the surveillance period, according to the latest data from the National Public Health Organization (EODY).
- 03 Σεπτεμβρίου 2026 14:44
Since the beginning of the West Nile virus surveillance period, a total of 290 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed and reported in Greece.
Of these, 199 cases developed symptoms affecting the central nervous system (CNS), such as encephalitis, meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis, while 91 cases had mild symptoms or no CNS involvement.
During the past week, 58 new locally acquired cases were diagnosed and reported.
Overall, as of September 2, 2026, 24 deaths have been recorded among patients infected with the virus, all aged over 65.
Cases recorded in 69 municipalities
West Nile virus infections have been recorded and investigated in 69 municipalities across Greece, spanning 20 Regional Units in the regions of Attica, Thessaly, Central Macedonia, the Peloponnese, Central Greece and Crete.
Cases have specifically been recorded in the following Regional Units:
- East Attica
- North Athens
- West Attica
- West Athens
- Central Athens
- South Athens
- Piraeus
- Karditsa
- Larissa
- Trikala
- Imathia
- Thessaloniki
- Pella
- Pieria
- Serres
- Laconia
- Evia
- Boeotia
- Rethymno
- Heraklion
EODY expects further cases to be diagnosed in the coming period, both in areas already affected and in new areas.
Attica in particular is experiencing unusually intense circulation of the virus this year, with a higher number of cases compared with previous years in specific areas and Regional Units.
Municipalities classified as “high risk”
In addition to the affected municipalities where human cases have been recorded, the Working Group for the Identification of Areas Affected by Vector-Borne Diseases, after assessing epidemiological and geomorphological data, has designated the following municipalities as “high risk”:
- Heraklion, North Athens Regional Unit
- Nea Smyrni and Palaio Faliro, South Athens Regional Unit
- Nea Filadelfeia-Nea Chalkidona and Dafni-Ymittos, Central Athens Regional Unit
- Ilion, West Athens Regional Unit
- Farkadona, Trikala Regional Unit
- Amphipoli, Serres Regional Unit
- Neapoli-Sykies
- Pavlos Melas and Oraiokastro, Thessaloniki Regional Unit
- Pydna-Kolindros, Pieria Regional Unit
- Kilkis, Kilkis Regional Unit
- Corinth, Corinthia Regional Unit
- Hersonissos, Heraklion Regional Unit
- Thasos
- Tinos
No human cases have been recorded so far during the current transmission season in the municipalities classified as “high risk.”
However, these areas combine factors associated with an increased risk of imminent transmission of the virus to humans and the emergence of cases, including their proximity to affected municipalities, geomorphological characteristics, and current and historical epidemiological data on the infection.
