A 63-year-old woman is currently hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Rethymno General Hospital after testing positive for the West Nile virus, according to laboratory confirmation. She initially presented with symptoms consistent with West Nile virus infection and first consulted a private physician before being transferred to the hospital for urgent care.
First Local Transmission on Crete
This marks the first locally acquired case of West Nile virus on the island of Crete. The patient had not traveled outside the region, confirming local transmission—likely via mosquito bite—within the island’s ecosystem.
Emergency Mosquito Control Measures in Thessaloniki
In response to confirmed cases in neighboring municipalities, the Municipality of Kordelio–Evosmos in Thessaloniki has launched emergency mosquito control operations. The action follows the detection of West Nile virus cases in the adjacent Municipality of Ampelokipoi–Menemeni and the subsequent classification of Kordelio–Evosmos as a high-risk area by Greece’s National Public Health Organization (EODY).
Local authorities have initiated targeted spraying across public green spaces, parks, areas with stagnant water, and other locations prone to mosquito breeding. These interventions are part of an intensified effort to curb vector populations during the peak transmission period—extending through mid-September.
Municipal officials stress that measures will remain in place until epidemiologists confirm a sustained decline in viral circulation. Kordelio–Evosmos Mayor Lefteris Alexandridis emphasized the municipality’s duty to safeguard residents’ health following its designation as high-risk: “As soon as cases were identified in our neighboring municipality—and EODY officially classified us as high-risk—it became our responsibility to implement all necessary protective actions.”
The West Nile virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. While most infections are asymptomatic or mild, severe neurological complications—including meningitis and encephalitis—can occur, particularly among older adults and immunocompromised individuals.