The confirmation of a new West Nile virus (WNV) case on 24 July in a 25-year-old Lusitano gelding in France (Bouches-du-Rhône) has reinforced calls for heightened vigilance during the mosquito season. The horse developed severe neurological signs, including hyperthermia, ataxia and paresis. Earlier this year, France also confirmed an equine case in Haute-Corse, while the first locally acquired human infection of 2026 was reported in the Pyrénées-Orientales.
Surveillance and early detection
To strengthen early detection, the Netherlands has once again launched its free West Nile virus surveillance programme for 2026. Until the end of November, veterinarians can submit serum and EDTA blood samples free of charge from unvaccinated horses showing neurological signs compatible with infectious disease of the central nervous system. The initiative, funded by the Dutch government, follows the country's first locally acquired equine infections in 2025 and aims to identify virus circulation as early as possible.
Veterinarians at the forefront
'Veterinarians are often the first to detect emerging diseases,' commented Volker Moser, President of the UEVP. 'Many of these diseases, including West Nile fever, also pose a risk to human health, making early recognition particularly important.'
West Nile virus is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, with wild birds acting as the natural reservoir. Horses and humans are dead-end hosts, meaning they do not contribute to further transmission.
(photo ©Pho Chai/Unsplash)