Open Outbreak

Should I be worried about West Nile virus in Occitanie, France?

Updated · Graded from official assessments; nothing here is medical advice.

West Nile virus in Occitanie, France · moderate

If you are in the affected area no assessment
No agency has published a risk assessment for people in Occitanie. ARS Occitanie said on 9 October that West Nile virus is under reinforced surveillance in the region and that confirmed cases must be notified immediately.
If you are elsewhere in the same country or region no assessment
No agency has published a national-level assessment for people elsewhere in France. The main official notice available is ARS Occitanie's 9 October update on ongoing surveillance in the region through 30 November.
If you are travelling there soon no assessment
No agency has published a risk assessment for travellers to Occitanie. UK TravelHealthPro said on 15 October that, as of 12 October, 178 locally acquired cases had been recorded in France across several regions including Occitanie.
If you are elsewhere in the world no assessment
No agency has published a risk assessment for people elsewhere in the world for the Occitanie event. The official France notice available here is ARS Occitanie's 9 October update on surveillance and case reporting.

What is happening

West Nile virus activity is being monitored in Occitanie, France, during the 2026 mosquito season. ARS Occitanie said on 9 October that mosquitoes remain active in autumn, that West Nile virus is under reinforced arbovirus surveillance in the region from 1 May to 30 November, and that confirmed cases require immediate notification. In the official material available here, the outbreak brief says a regional bulletin reported 52 autochthonous West Nile virus infections in Occitanie from 1 May to 13 October, but the bulletin URL was not returned. Separate media reporting is unverified and mostly national in scope: the record figures list 1,623 confirmed cases and 5 deaths, unverified, with +16 media this week, while collected media items cite France-wide totals of 117 cases on 23 September, 145 cases and 5 deaths on 4 October, and 161 cases on 10 October. Officials are continuing seasonal surveillance and public messaging on mosquito bite prevention, removing standing water, and prompt reporting of confirmed cases.

Who is affected and how it spreads

West Nile virus is mainly spread by infected mosquitoes in a bird-mosquito-bird cycle. Humans and horses are incidental hosts rather than the main driver of transmission. The source material available here does not describe normal person-to-person spread. WHO text in the dossier says most human infection is generally mild, but neurological disease and death can occur.

What officials advise

What we are watching

Updates

Sources