November 2026 | Published on 12 November 2026 based on data submitted up until and including 4 November 2026
As part of their One Health activities, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) jointly collate and analyse data from national surveillance systems on West Nile virus (WNV) infections in humans and outbreaks in equids and birds to monitor the epidemiological situation in Europe.
This surveillance informs public health and veterinary authorities and supports timely prevention and control measures, including the deferral or testing of blood donors who have potentially been exposed to the virus, in accordance with Commission Directives 2004/33/EC and 2014/110/EU.
Through this joint surveillance, ECDC and EFSA continue to monitor the WNV epidemiological situation in Europe.
Key findings
Following the seasonal peak from August to early September, WNV activity declined across Europe.
In 2026, Europe experienced the most widespread geographical distribution of WNV to date, with numbers of human cases and animal outbreaks exceeding levels reported in previous years.
Overall, there is no indication of increased disease severity in humans in Europe compared with previous years.
Italy remained the most affected country, reporting the highest numbers of human cases and avian outbreaks.
Greece and France reported their highest numbers of human WNV cases ever, with France also reporting a record number of equid outbreaks.
WNV activity expanded in northern Europe, with human cases and animal outbreaks detected across multiple regions in Belgium and the Netherlands, with Belgium reporting its first-ever human WNV infections.
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Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/infectious-disease-topics/west-nile-virus-infection/surveillance-and-disease-data/monthly-updates
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