West Nile Virus Greece: Cases Surge as Deaths Rise | Latest Updates

Surge in Infections Across the 2026 Transmission Season

Health officials registered 75 new locally acquired infections in just a single week leading up to late August 2026, marking a dramatic acceleration in vector-borne disease transmission across Greece. According to epidemiological surveillance data released by EODY, this year’s outbreak is tracking nearly three times larger than the corresponding period last year, as reported by the Greek daily Tovima. Out of the 232 confirmed patients, 165 individuals developed severe complications affecting the central nervous system—such as encephalitis, meningitis, or acute flaccid paralysis. Meanwhile, 67 patients experienced milder clinical manifestations or remained completely free of neurological symptoms.

Tragically, all 19 fatalities recorded as of August 26 involved older adults aged over 65, with a median victim age of 85, spanning a range from 66 to 92 years old. Hospital infrastructure continues to shoulder heavy operational strain. Data shows that 73 patients were in hospital nationwide, which includes 26 individuals receiving critical care in intensive care units and one patient situated in a high-dependency unit, while 124 other patients have successfully recovered and been discharged.

Attica Region at the Epicenter of the Outbreak

The densely populated Attica region sits squarely at the core of this year’s epidemic wave, exhibiting intense viral circulation and case counts that outpace prior seasons. EODY confirms that investigations span across 61 municipalities, 18 regional units, and five major administrative regions, including Attica, Thessaly, Central Macedonia, Peloponnese, and Central Greece. Eastern Attica bears a particularly heavy burden of disease. Within the municipality of Spata-Artemida, health teams logged 17 total cases, with 15 involving central nervous system complications. Neighboring Markopoulo Mesogaias registered 13 cases, alongside notable infection clusters detected in Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni, Agia Paraskevi, Pallini, and Halandri.

Outside of the capital region, elevated virus transmission is active in Thessaly, where Larissa municipality accounts for 21 infections, alongside cases spanning Karditsa, Palamas, Sofades, Kileler, Tempi, Tyrnavos, and Farsala. Simultaneously, Central Macedonia reported human cases distributed across parts of Imathia, Thessaloniki, Pella, Pieria, and Serres—specifically touching Veria, Pella, Skydra, and Katerini. Local municipalities are actively countering the spread; for example, authorities in Pallini deploy digital risk maps to monitor storm drains while installing specialized traps targeting female mosquitoes, and Filothei-Psychiko carried out emergency nighttime spraying within a 300-meter radius of a confirmed infection.

High-Risk Expansion Zones and Animal Surveillance

Public health authorities have expanded their radar beyond currently affected towns, designating multiple new zones as “high risk” based on a combination of geomorphological and epidemiological indicators. This precautionary watchlist features the Athenian municipalities of Heraklion of Attica, Nea Smyrni, Nea Filadelfeia-Nea Chalkidona, and Dafni-Ymittos, alongside Amfipoli and Thasos, where human infections had not yet materialized by late August. EODY warns that additional diagnoses across both established and newly flagged territories remain highly probable in the weeks ahead, noting that reporting lags between symptom onset and official notification mean recent figures are likely to face upward revisions.

Animal health surveillance reinforces these warnings by detecting active virus circulation among equidae populations. Recent veterinary investigations identified positive infections across nine distinct clusters located within Eastern Attica, Western Athens, Drama, Preveza, and the Metropolitan Unit of Thessaloniki. Addressing the broader public health trajectory, Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistokleous noted that mathematical models suggest that 2026 could become a record year, potentially exceeding the severe 2018 outbreak, when Greece registered 317 cases and 59 deaths. Health officials anticipate the current transmission wave will peak within one to two weeks, though new infections are projected to persist through at least the end of September. Amid these mounting pressures, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis maintained a calm stance, stating that there is no reason to panic, and stressing that the healthcare system is not under pressure.