West Nile fever maps, 20 September 2012: 27 new cases in the EU and 58 in neighbouring countriesArchived

Twenty seven new human cases of West Nile fever have been reported for the EU and 58 for its neighbourhood over the past week.

Thirteen new cases were reported in Greece by the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) – all cases are in areas with previous case reports (Achaia 1, Chalkidiki 1, Drama 3, Imathia 1, Kavala 1, Pella 1, Xanthi 5). (See the  KEELPNO Weekly bulletin for more information). New cases and affected areas in Greece are not unexpected given that since 2010 there has been progressive geographical expansion of West Nile virus transmission throughout the country, as stated in the recently published ECDC risk assessment on the epidemiological situation of West Nile fever in Greece.

In Hungary, two new West Nile fever cases have been found (in two newly affected counties), in Italy - 11 (two in a newly affected province) and in Romania - one case, in an area with previous case reports.

In neighbouring countries, for the first time this year Kosovo reported a probable case of West Nile fever, in Kosovski region (Pristina). Thirty one new cases have been found in Russia, 22 - in Israel, three - in Tunisia and one in Croatia.

Every Friday ECDC publishes on its website the West Nile fever maps, the information being based on cases reported up to the Thursday of each week.