West Nile Virus Reaches Belgrade
The presence of the virus genome has been confirmed in a mosquito caught in Čukarica, and Serbia earlier this month recorded its first two cases of West Nile fever.
The presence of the virus genome has been confirmed in a mosquito caught in Čukarica, and Serbia earlier this month recorded its first two cases of West Nile fever.
The presence of the West Nile virus genome has been confirmed in a mosquito caught in the Belgrade municipality of Čukarica, according to a report carried by Nova.rs and cited by N1 Croatia. The positive finding was identified in a mosquito from the Culex genus, announced the laboratory of the 'Gradska čistoća' Sector for Ecology and Environmental Improvement.
The infected mosquito was caught at the 'Železnik' marshalling yard within the Čukarica municipality. The sample was processed using the Real-time PCR method, as stated on the company's website, whose teams carry out mosquito control treatments in the field almost daily.
Residents have been urged to act responsibly, to use repellents and protective nets, and to avoid being outdoors during peak mosquito activity hours, from 7 p.m. to midnight.
"The Sector for Ecology and Environmental Improvement will continue to monitor mosquito populations daily across all Belgrade municipalities, as well as to implement mosquito control measures," the sector announced.
The Institute of Public Health of Serbia 'Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut' announced on August 6, 2026, that the first two cases of West Nile fever had been recorded in Serbia this year. The patients, from the Belgrade area, aged 75 and 82, were hospitalized at the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases due to the development of a neuroinvasive form of the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) called for increased vigilance at the end of July 2026 after several cases of West Nile fever were reported in southern Europe. According to the WHO, the virus is mainly transmitted between mosquitoes and birds, but infected mosquitoes can also bite and infect humans, most commonly from July to September.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's disease control and prevention agency, notes that most infected individuals do not even notice they carry the virus. For this reason, researchers assume there is a significant number of unreported cases. In more severe forms, the disease can affect the nervous system and cause conditions such as encephalitis and meningitis.
There is neither a vaccine nor a specific treatment for the West Nile virus, and doctors can only alleviate symptoms. The WHO advises travelers to reduce the risk of bites by wearing appropriate clothing and using mosquito repellents.
