Special teams were seen early Thursday morning in Glyfada to carry out preventive spraying against mosquitos after a West Nile virus infection was confirmed in the suburb of southern Athens.
The residents of the area had been accordingly informed by the municipality a day earlier.
The spraying has been carried out by teams of the Regional government of Attica in collaboration with the National Public Health Organization (EODY) and the Municipality of Glyfada.
Authorities remind that the virus is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and not from person to person.
Several people told state broadcaster ERT that they were concerned about their pets.
According to the instructions of the EODY, the virus is transmitted mainly through the bite of infected “common” mosquitoes. It is not transmitted from person to person, nor through social, sexual or other contact.
Mosquitoes are infected by certain species of wild birds, while people who are sick cannot transmit the virus to other mosquitoes.
According to official EODY announcement, a total of 7 confirmed cases of West Nile virus infections have been recorded in 2026 and thus until July 15, 2026.
Six of the infected people, aged 62-86, have developed symptoms and have been briefly hospitalized, while one person remained asymptomatic.
The infection cases were confirmed:
- 2 in Spata-Artemida eastern Attica
- 1 in Markopoulo-Mesogaia, eastern Attica
- 1 in Glyfada south-eastern Athens
- 1 in Agia Paraskevi, northern Athens
- 1 in Larissa, Thessaly
- 1 in Palamas, Thessaly
The first confirmed infection for 2026 was diagnosed in Agia Paraskevi beginning of the month.
No death has been recorded, so far.
The West Nile virus infection affects mainly the central nervous system and can also lead to death.
