West Nile virus death reported in Netherlands

Dutch health authorities said Wednesday that a patient died in hospital after contracting West Nile virus in the Netherlands, in a case in Utrecht province.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, known as RIVM, said three infections have so far been reported in 2026 that were probably contracted in the Netherlands. It said it remains very unlikely for people to contract West Nile fever in the country.

West Nile virus can spread to humans through mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. It is not spread between humans, and there is no vaccine or treatment for the disease.

North Macedonia reported its fifth West Nile virus death this year on Saturday. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said last week that Albania, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Romania, Serbia and Spain had reported cases this year.

In July, the World Health Organization urged European countries to strengthen mosquito surveillance because of the rising number of cases.

RIVM said 80% of human infections have no symptoms. Of the remaining infections, it said 1% develop serious neurological symptoms, while some people have flu-like illness.