End of West Nile virus transmission season in Europe, 30 November 2012

Epidemiological update

12 December 2012

From 20 June to 23 November, ECDC has published on its website weekly updates on spatial distribution of West Nile fever cases in the European Union and neighbouring countries. Cases reported in the EU included confirmed and probable cases with positive laboratory result as per the EU case definition and all reported cases outside the EU.

The first cases of West Nile fever were reported on 7 July from Greece and Russia. As of 30 November 2012, 237 human cases of West Nile fever have been reported in the EU and 670 in neighbouring countries (see detailed information in the updated maps and table).

Since 1 November, no recent cases have been reported in the EU. The number of recent cases reported outside the EU also decreased dramatically. With the decrease of mosquito populations, the season of West Nile virus transmission to humans has now come to an end in Europe and neighbouring countries. ECDC published its last weekly update of the West Nile fever maps on Friday 23 November and closed its seasonal monitoring of West Nile virus transmission for 2012.