Person dies from West Nile fever contracted in the Netherlands

A resident of the Dutch province of Utrecht has died from West Nile fever, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced Wednesday. This is the first reported fatality from the virus in the Netherlands, though it is not the first case this year.

Three infections acquired within the Netherlands have been reported in 2026. The RIVM emphasized that the chance of contracting the virus and becoming ill is "very small." The West Nile virus circulates among birds and can spread to humans and other mammals through mosquito bites. While 80% of infected individuals show no symptoms, 19% experience flu-like illness, and 1% develop neurological complications such as meningitis. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for West Nile fever.

Last week, the RIVM reported that a blood donor from Utrecht tested positive for the West Nile virus, the first such detection since 2020. The infected blood had already been transfused to a patient before the donor's infection was identified, raising the possibility that the recipient was also infected. The RIVM declined to confirm whether the deceased individual was the blood donor or the patient. The virus is not transmitted from person to person but can spread via blood transfusion.

Initially prevalent in Africa, the West Nile virus is increasingly found in Europe and globally, partly due to climate change. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) figures show 245 human infections across Europe in 2026, with Italy (139 cases), Greece (65), Spain (17), and North Macedonia (13) reporting the highest numbers. In the Netherlands, the virus was previously detected in Utrecht, North Brabant, and South Holland provinces in 2026. The RIVM continues to monitor the virus's presence in humans, horses, birds, and mosquitoes within the country.

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The chance to contract the virus and become ill is "very small."