Italy leads Europe in West Nile virus cases, 139 confirmed across 47 provinces
Italy has recorded 139 West Nile virus cases this year, the highest in Europe, per ECDC data cited by Euronews. The virus is confirmed circulating in 47 provinces across 12 regions, from Piedmont to Sicily. About 80% of infections are asymptomatic, but risk is higher for older pe
Italy has recorded 139 West Nile virus cases so far this year, the highest total in Europe, according to ECDC data reported by Euronews. Continent-wide, confirmed cases have passed 240, with Greece also reporting a surge and Germany logging its first case of the season. The virus is now confirmed circulating in 47 Italian provinces spread across 12 regions, stretching from Piedmont and Lombardy in the north to Sicily and Sardinia in the south. Italy's national health institute, the ISS, says West Nile virus has circulated in the country for several years and that roughly 80% of infections produce no symptoms. The remaining cases can range from mild fever to more serious neurological illness, with the highest risk falling on older adults and people with weakened immune systems. The scale of the current spread, confirmed across a third of Italy's regions, shows that West Nile virus has settled into southern Europe as a recurring seasonal risk rather than an isolated outbreak. For anyone in the affected regions, especially those in higher-risk groups, that means standard mosquito-bite precautions are relevant right now, not just as a general seasonal reminder.