Greece has recorded 110 domestic West Nile virus infections and nine deaths as of 12 August, the National Public Health Organization reported, marking a sharp acceleration from the 42 cases logged at the end of July. Forty-five new cases were diagnosed in the past week alone, with 81 patients developing serious central nervous system complications such as encephalitis and meningitis. Sixteen patients remain in intensive care.
All nine fatalities involved people over the age of 65, with a median age of 82. Infections have been concentrated in the greater Athens area, where municipalities including Kifisia, Heraklio, and Kallithea have been designated high-risk zones. Recent equine infections have also been detected in five locations across eastern Attica, Drama, Preveza, and Thessaloniki.
The World Health Organization has urged heightened vigilance across southern Europe, where Italy has also reported a cluster of cases.