Netherlands West Nile cases rise to nine, agency says

Dutch health authorities said nine cases of mosquito-transmitted West Nile virus had been registered in recent weeks, after the Netherlands earlier reported one death from the disease.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, known as RIVM, said most of the cases were diagnosed in hospitals. It said patients contracted the virus after being bitten by infected mosquitoes.

RIVM said the infections occurred in the provinces of Utrecht, North Brabant, North Holland and South Holland.

The agency had reported a West Nile death on August 26, when it said there had been three cases in the Netherlands in 2026.

West Nile virus is similar to severe influenza in most cases but can cause serious neurological symptoms. There is no commercially available vaccine or preventive treatment.

Several European countries have reported West Nile cases this year. North Macedonia has reported at least five deaths, while the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that, as of August 26, at least 15 European countries had recorded nearly 900 cases this year.