First West Nile virus death reported in the Netherlands for 2026

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) confirmed on August 26, 2026, that a person has died in the Netherlands due to a locally acquired West Nile virus (WNV) infection. This fatality follows the report of the country's first confirmed domestic case since 2020, which was identified in a blood donor last week. RIVM clarified that the deceased individual is separate from the blood donor case and the recipient of that blood product.

Currently, three cases of the virus have been identified as likely contracted within the Netherlands this year. Beyond human infections, the virus has been detected in a horse and a bird, confirming that the pathogen is circulating within local mosquito populations. According to the World Health Organization, the virus is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, with only about one in 150 infected individuals developing severe, life-threatening symptoms. The virus naturally persists in bird populations and can be transmitted to humans and horses, though these hosts cannot spread it to others.

Despite the rising number of cases across Europe, particularly in Greece and Italy, RIVM maintains that it remains highly unlikely for the average person to contract the virus within the Netherlands. Health authorities continue to monitor the spread, attributing the increased circulation to higher temperatures, which provide more favorable conditions for mosquito activity.