West Nile cases reach 43 in North Macedonia as European control remains patchy
North Macedonia confirmed a fifth West Nile death as the case count reached 43. A survey of 29 European countries found active mosquito-control measures in only 20 while transmission is rising.
Science··Morning
A fifth death is confirmed, with 20 to 21 patients in the clinic
Health authorities in North Macedonia confirmed a fifth death from West Nile virus and put the total case count at 43. Fadil Cana, who heads the infectious disease clinic, said the number of patients in the clinic has been varying between 20 and 21. Epidemics have been declared in several Skopje municipalities and the surrounding area. The country reported its first case in 2011 and had confirmed 54 cases in total by the end of 2025. The new count shows that the burden in the 2026 season is already approaching the previous cumulative total.[1]
Spraying continues around irrigation canals and bodies of water
Authorities are carrying out aerial and ground spraying around irrigation canals and bodies of water. Health Minister Sasho Klekovski asked residents to drain standing water and report dead birds, which are a natural reservoir for the virus. Transmission concentrates between July and September, when the mosquito season peaks. According to the World Health Organization, there is no approved human vaccine and no disease-specific treatment. The number of European countries with established Asian tiger mosquito populations has doubled from 12 years ago to reach 16.[1]
Only 20 of 29 countries had active mosquito measures
Scientists from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and three other European agencies examined mosquito control in 29 countries and found active measures in only 20. The peer-reviewed assessment in Eurosurveillance compares surveys from 2020 and 2025 as transmission of dengue, chikungunya and West Nile virus rises. The authors call for control that combines larval treatment, adult-mosquito management, personal protection and coordination among institutions. Governance remains fragmented, data on the cost-effectiveness and safety of current measures are limited, and insecticide resistance is spreading. The article assesses existing knowledge rather than reporting new field measurements.[2]
