Greece Issues West Nile Virus Warning Ahead of Summer Season

Thursday, 28 May 2026/Source: CretaOne/1 min read

Greece's national public health authority (EODY) has issued its annual West Nile Virus advisory ahead of the summer season. The virus spreads through bites from infected common mosquitoes and poses the greatest risk to elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. Most people infected experience no symptoms or only mild flu-like illness, but serious neurological complications can occur in vulnerable individuals. EODY recommends using mosquito repellent containing DEET, wearing long sleeves and trousers at dawn and dusk, sleeping under mosquito nets or in air-conditioned rooms, and eliminating standing water around accommodations. There is no vaccine. Tourists visiting Crete this summer should take standard mosquito precautions, particularly during evening hours and when staying near wetlands or agricultural areas. Anyone developing fever, headache, or confusion after a mosquito bite should seek medical attention promptly.