News | RIVM

Person died from a West Nile virus infection acquired in the Netherlands

In the province of Utrecht, someone has died from West Nile fever. The person contracted the West Nile virus in the Netherlands and died in a hospital. Due to privacy and out of respect for the relatives, RIVM will not make any further statements about this person.

West Nile virus detected in a blood donor

A West Nile virus infection has been confirmed in a blood donor in the Netherlands. This occurred in August 2026 during a Sanquin study among blood donors from areas where the West Nile virus had previously been detected in humans, horses, birds or mosquitoes. A laboratory test (PCR) detected the virus in the donor, who had no symptoms and is still not showing any. The person lives in the province of Utrecht and has not been abroad recently. It is therefore likely that the infection was contracted in the Netherlands.

Anders Lindström

Grey heron infected with West Nile virus

A grey heron in the Noord-Holland-Noord region has tested positive for the West Nile virus. The virus is rare in the Netherlands.

Bas van de Meulengraaf

Patient infected with West Nile virus in the Arnhem region

In the past week, six human infections with the West Nile virus have been detected in the Netherlands.

First West Nile virus patient in the Netherlands

A male patient has been diagnosed with the West Nile virus last week. The man has not been abroad recently. He may have contracted the virus in the region of Utrecht due to a mosquito bite.