Belgium; One Health; West Nile virus; lineage 2; wildlife surveillance; RNA, Viral; Animals; Belgium/epidemiology; Phylogeny; Whole Genome Sequencing; RNA, Viral/genetics; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Population Surveillance; Culicidae/virology; West Nile virus/isolation & purification; West Nile virus/genetics; West Nile Fever/veterinary; West Nile Fever/virology; West Nile Fever/epidemiology; West Nile Fever/diagnosis; Birds/virology; Bird Diseases/virology; Bird Diseases/epidemiology; Bird Diseases/diagnosis; Animals, Wild/virology; Animals, Wild; Bird Diseases; Birds; Culicidae; West Nile Fever; Epidemiology; Microbiology; Immunology and Microbiology (miscellaneous); Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; Microbiology (medical); Virology; Infectious Diseases
Abstract :
[en] In August 2025, West Nile virus (WNV) was detected for the first time in Belgium through a monitoring programme in wild birds, with three corvids testing positive by RT-qPCR. In September and October, four additional infected birds were identified. Whole genome sequencing classified the strain as WNV lineage 2, consistent with strains circulating elsewhere in Europe. These detections provide evidence of local WNV circulation with important implications for animal and public health preparedness and surveillance during the 2026 mosquito season.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Sohier, Charlotte ; Sciensano, Belgian Health Institute, Brussels, Belgium
Breman, Floris C; Sciensano, Belgian Health Institute, Brussels, Belgium
Vervaeke, Muriel; Agency for Nature and Forests, Brussels, Belgium
Sikkema, Reina; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Boter, Marjan; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Oude Munnink, Bas; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Koopmans, Marion; Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Linden, Annick ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Santé et pathologies de la faune sauvage
Duran Illan, Laura ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH)
Romero, Javiera Rebolledo; Sciensano, Belgian Health Institute, Brussels, Belgium
Lernout, Tinne; Sciensano, Belgian Health Institute, Brussels, Belgium
De Regge, Nick; Sciensano, Belgian Health Institute, Brussels, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
First detection of West Nile virus in Belgium through wild bird surveillance, Belgium, 2025.
Publication date :
31 January 2026
Journal title :
Euro Surveillance: Bulletin Européen sur les Maladies Transmissibles
ISSN :
1025-496X
eISSN :
1560-7917
Publisher :
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Sweden
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