West Nile virus: Greece braces for potentially difficult season as cases surge

Greece is facing a potentially severe season for West Nile virus infections, with health authorities issuing a stark warning that it could be one of the most challenging years on record. The National Public Health Organization (EODY) has noted an intense circulation of the virus, particularly in the Attica region, leading to a rapid increase in cases early in the transmission period.

As of August 12, EODY has recorded a total of 110 cases across Greece. Of these, 81 individuals developed severe symptoms affecting the Central Nervous System, while 29 experienced milder manifestations. The cases are spread across 39 municipalities in 14 Regional Units, primarily in the Attica, Thessaly, Central Macedonia, and Peloponnese regions. Health officials anticipate further cases in both current and potentially new areas.

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The difficult times are ahead of us.

EODY clarifies that there is no scientific evidence suggesting the virus has changed its behavior or become more transmissible. Instead, the current epidemiological picture is attributed to a combination of factors influencing mosquito populations. According to Danai Pervanidou, head of the Vector-Borne Diseases department at EODY, increased temperatures and rainfall are key drivers of seasonal virus outbreaks.

Pervanidou specifically pointed to the warm winter of 2025-2026 in Attica, described as the second warmest in 150 years, as a likely contributor to the current situation. West Nile virus has been recorded annually in Greece since 2010, and its reappearance each year is considered expected, with the virus now established in the country. Greece consistently ranks among European nations with the highest number of West Nile virus cases, often alongside Italy.

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The warm winter of 2025-2026 in Attica (the second warmest in the last 150 years) possibly contributed to the current epidemiological picture.