Two people over the age of 78 have died in Greece after contracting West Nile virus, according to the latest update from the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY).

From the beginning of 2025 through August 20, a total of 47 locally acquired infections have been confirmed and investigated. Of these, 41 patients developed severe complications involving the central nervous system, such as encephalitis, meningitis, or acute paralysis. The remaining six cases involved either mild symptoms or none at all.

In just the past week, 12 new domestic cases were recorded. One additional imported case was also confirmed in a patient who had recently traveled to Serbia, though it is not included in Greece’s regional breakdown of infections.

EODY has identified clusters of cases across different municipalities, stressing that the reported locations provide only a rough indication of where transmission is occurring.

Health experts note that the true number of infections may be far higher. A previous epidemiological study suggested that for every severe case affecting the nervous system, as many as 140 people may be infected with either mild or no symptoms.