Health officials alert public after Moldova detects West Nile virus
Moldovan health authorities have confirmed two cases of West Nile virus, including one locally transmitted infection, prompting public health warnings amid an escalating European mosquito-borne disease season.
First Autochthonous Transmission Since 2024
The National Public Health Agency (ANSP) reported that while one patient contracted the pathogen abroad, the second infection was acquired domestically. The diagnosis represents Moldova's first documented local transmission since 2024, when epidemiological monitoring registered five cases, all imported.
Public health specialists emphasized that approximately 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus remain asymptomatic or develop only mild illness. However, vulnerable patients can experience acute fatigue, high fever, severe headaches, muscle weakness, and potentially debilitating neurological complications.
Precautionary Guidance for Travelers and Residents
Ludmila Lungu, a department head at the ANSP, urged citizens returning from European destinations or tropical regions to seek prompt medical attention if they develop sudden fever or neurological symptoms.
“Mosquitoes can transmit not only West Nile, but also dengue, chikungunya, or yellow fever, which are not endemic to Moldova,” said Lungu in an interview with Radio Moldova. “With citizens vacationing in European countries such as Italy and Greece where these pathogens circulate, anyone returning with fever or joint pain must consult a doctor and disclose their travel history.”
The health agency advised residents to install protective screens on windows and doors, wear clothing covering the limbs during peak dawn and dusk hours, apply pharmacy-grade repellents, and eliminate open water containers around households to curb mosquito breeding.
Regional Surge Across Southern Europe
Moldova's alert coincides with broader European surveillance warnings. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicates that 15 European nations have reported more than 1,000 locally acquired human West Nile cases so far this year.
Southern Europe remains the most severely affected area, with Italy registering over 500 cases. In neighboring Romania, surveillance reports have confirmed 47 infections alongside 11 probable cases during the 2026 transmission season, resulting in three fatalities.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
RELATED COVERAGE
- No hantavirus cases confirmed in Moldova; ANSP says public risk remains low
- Health Minister: No hantavirus cases recorded in Moldova
- ANSA warns: Hantavirus symptoms may be mistaken for other infections
- Moldova receives second batch of rabies vaccine
- Moldova secures €10 million grant to combat HIV and tuberculosis
