West Nile Virus Kills 130 as Cases Spread Across Europe

West Nile virus infected 1,715 people and killed 130 across European Union countries in 2026, according to figures reported by UNN on October 16, citing the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Meanwhile, Keith McIntosh, a Hamilton, Ontario, resident infected during the summer of 2025, is recovering after the mosquito-borne disease significantly affected his health. Greece, Italy and France have experienced the greatest burden of infections in Europe this year, according to UNN.

Health officials are also monitoring the virus's spread into northern European countries, where it has historically been detected less frequently. The Netherlands recorded 59 cases in 2026, while Belgium reported 15, according to the same report. ECDC experts have warned that the virus's expansion into northern Europe could continue in the coming years.

McIntosh's experience illustrates the potential impact of an infection that can initially go unnoticed. The Hamilton Spectator reported on October 20 that he encountered a mosquito in his backyard in the city's east end after returning home from work in late summer 2025.

McIntosh had taken off his boots on his back deck and walked across the yard to put something away when he felt what he recognized as a familiar insect bite. He did not expect the encounter to precede a serious illness. According to medical information cited by UNN, approximately 80% of people infected with West Nile virus develop no symptoms. Others may experience fever and a general decline in well-being, making awareness of the disease important even when initial symptoms appear relatively mild.

In severe cases, West Nile virus can affect the nervous system, cause serious neurological complications and lead to death. The European figures underscore the disease's potential severity, although the reported totals do not indicate how many patients developed serious complications. The virus is transmitted primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Health professionals recommend that people living in or traveling to affected regions use insect repellents, wear loose-fitting clothing that covers exposed skin during the evening and nighttime, and install mosquito screens on windows.

The ECDC advises these precautions in areas where the virus has been detected. The agency's experts have also warned that infections could continue spreading into northern Europe in the coming years, extending the geographic range of a disease already affecting multiple European countries.