ECDC has published Weekly updates: 2018 West Nile fever transmission season. The situation update:
Between 24 and 30 August 2018, EU Member States reported 300 human cases of West Nile fever: Italy (144), Romania (61), Greece (41), Hungary (38), Austria (8), France (6), Croatia (1) and Slovenia (1). EU neighbouring countries reported 55 cases: Serbia (54) and Kosovo* (1). In six areas, human cases were reported for the first time: Italy (3), Austria (1) and Slovenia (1). All other human cases were reported from areas that have been affected during previous transmission seasons.
This week, 25 deaths were reported by Romania (6), Serbia (6), Italy (7), Greece (5) and France (1). In the same week, 13 outbreaks among equids were reported, all by Hungary.
According to the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), West Nile virus infection was detected in birds in Germany for the first time. The infection was detected in two dead owls in a bird park in Halle (Saale River), Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
In 2018, as of 30 August 2018, EU Member States reported 710 human cases: Italy (327), Greece (147), Romania (117), Hungary (96), France (11), Austria (8), Croatia (3) and Slovenia (1). EU neighbouring countries reported 265 human cases: Serbia (213), Israel (49) and Kosovo* (3). To date, a total of 64 deaths due to West Nile fever have been reported by Serbia (21), Greece (16), Italy (13), Romania (12), France (1) and Kosovo* (1).
During the current transmission season, 77 outbreaks among equids have been reported by Italy (41), Hungary (31) and Greece (5).
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
