Europe has experienced the most intense West Nile virus season to date as the virus spreads to new parts of the continent, transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said on Thursday.
European Union countries have reported 1,715 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus infection — the highest ever reported — and 130 deaths, according to figures as of 7 October. Some of the cases came from previously unaffected regions.