Greece records 157 West Nile virus cases and 12 deaths as Attica enters red alert

Surge across Attica and central regions

Greek public health authorities have placed the Attica region on elevated alert after detecting a rapid acceleration in West Nile virus transmissions. The National Public Health Organization (EODY) reported that seasonal transmission rates in the metropolitan area have climbed faster than in previous surveillance cycles. Epidemiologists attribute the heightened activity to an unusually warm winter in Attica, followed by summer rainfall and persistent humidity that created ideal breeding conditions for mosquito populations. Virus circulation has also expanded beyond the capital into Thessaly and Central Macedonia, with smaller clusters documented in the Peloponnese and Central Greece. Specialized laboratories are conducting genetic sequencing to determine whether a new virus strain is contributing to the rise in cases. Danai Pervanidou, head of vector-borne diseases at EODY, described the geographical intensity of the outbreak across Athens and its surroundings.

All of Attica is in the red.

Laboratory testing and unrecorded infections

Hospitals across Greece have confirmed 157 cases of West Nile virus as of 24 August 2026. EODY President Theodoros Vasilakopoulos reported that 12 patients have died from complications of the infection, while approximately 45 individuals are currently receiving inpatient hospital treatment. Professor of Microbiology Athanasios Tsakris stated that hospital units submit suspect blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples to specialized diagnostic centers for antibody and molecular PCR testing, with results delivered within 24 hours. Epidemiological specialists emphasize that official tallies capture only a fraction of total community transmission because most infected people experience minimal illness. Gkikas Magiorkinis, associate professor of hygiene and epidemiology at the University of Athens Medical School, noted that asymptomatic carriage masks the wider spread.

Think of at least ten times, not to say a hundred times. The actual cases are far more than these and they will never realize it and West Nile virus will never trouble them.

Clinical symptoms and neurological risks

West Nile virus operates with an incubation period of 2 to 6 days after an infected mosquito bite, initiating with fever, severe headache, and muscle aches. Approximately 80% of infected individuals develop no symptoms, while about 18% experience mild febrile illness that resolves on its own. Roughly 1 in 150 patients develops severe neuroinvasive disease, which can manifest as encephalitis, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis affecting spinal motor neurons. Severe central nervous system involvement can produce disorientation, limb tremors, muscle weakness, convulsions, and coma. Individuals aged 60 to 65 and older face the highest probability of severe disease. A 12-year study published in the journal JAMA identified higher vulnerability among men and patients with hypertension, stroke history, chronic kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, hematologic malignancies, or alcohol-related disorders.

Municipal prevention and containment measures

Health agencies have designated nine municipalities across East and South Attica as priority red zones: Spata, Artemida, Markopoulo, Voula, Vari, Vouliagmeni, Agia Paraskevi, Pallini, and Chalandri. Regional and local administrations have increased preventive anti-mosquito spraying programs by 30% relative to 2025. In Agia Paraskevi, Mayor Giannis Mylonakis coordinated localized spraying drives while urging residents to inspect private properties for standing water. Agronomist Angeliki Fanouraki instructed property owners to drain stagnant pools in yards, planters, and roof gutters, recommending that domestic clearing measures be repeated every 15 to 20 days. Health officials advise the public to use insect repellents, wear long-sleeved clothing during evening hours, and operate indoor fans to disrupt mosquito flight paths.