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Abstract

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.

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/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.4.2600049
2026-01-29
2026-02-07
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.4.2600049
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First detection of West Nile virus in Belgium through wild bird surveillance, Belgium, 2025
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Charlotte+Sohier&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sohier Charlotte</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Floris+C+Breman&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Breman Floris C</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Muriel+Vervaeke&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Vervaeke Muriel</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Reina+Sikkema&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sikkema Reina</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Marjan+Boter&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Boter Marjan</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Bas+Oude+Munnink&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Oude Munnink Bas</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Marion+Koopmans&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Koopmans Marion</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Annick+Linden&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Linden Annick</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Laura+Duran+Illan&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Duran Illan Laura</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Javiera+Rebolledo+Romero&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Romero Javiera Rebolledo</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Tinne+Lernout&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Lernout Tinne</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Nick+De+Regge&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">De Regge Nick</a></span>. First detection of West Nile virus in Belgium through wild bird surveillance, Belgium, 2025. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2026;31(4):pii=2600049. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.4.2600049" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.4.2600049</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 22 Jan 2026;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 29 Jan 2026 </span> </p>
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.4.2600049
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.4.2600049
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