- Heraklion and Archanes-Asterousia municipal districts join Rethymno following confirmed human diagnoses.
- Upgraded to high-risk status strictly as a preventative measure due to a patient’s holiday home location.
- Three active infections reported across Crete involving central nervous system symptoms, contributing to a broader national tally of 290 domestic cases and 24 deaths.
- Regional mosquito spraying and sample collection intensified, with the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB/FORTH) reporting clean pathogen test results on current mosquito pools.
New epidemiological data have emerged in Crete regarding the West Nile Virus, with the municipalities of Heraklion and Archanes-Asterousia now added to the list of affected areas, following Rethymno, after at least one case was recorded in each.
Concurrently, the Municipality of Chersonisos has been upgraded to a high-risk area. According to the National Public Health Organization’s (EODY) Weekly Epidemiological Surveillance Report published on Wednesday, September 2, this classification applies to municipalities where no human cases have been recorded during the current 2026 transmission period, but where certain risk factors for potential transmission are present.
Despite these updates, the overall epidemiological picture on the island remains stable. A total of three cases have been recorded in the Regional Units of Rethymno and Heraklion, involving a 63-year-old woman and two men aged 69 and 70. According to EODY, all cases presented with central nervous system manifestations.
Why Chersonisos is Listed as High Risk
The situation in Chersonisos is purely precautionary. Antonis Papadakis, the Public Health Officer for the Region of Crete, explained to Nea Kriti that this upgrade is linked to the contact tracing of one of the Heraklion cases.
“Chersonisos essentially came into the picture because the patient’s country residence is located on the border between the two municipalities. Therefore, due to its close proximity, Chersonisos was characterized as high risk for safety reasons,” Mr. Papadakis explained, strongly emphasizing that there is no cause for public concern.
This classification aligns perfectly with EODY’s definition of high-risk areas, which notes that such municipalities have not recorded human cases but may still exhibit risk factors, such as proximity to affected areas, geomorphological data, or historical epidemiological patterns.
Preventive Measures and Testing Continue Normally
Mosquito control spraying operations are continuing without interruption. The Region of Crete has intensified spraying in areas traced by EODY based on the movements of the three positive cases, aiming to suppress any potential mosquito infection hotspots. Informational leaflets have also been distributed to residents in these areas.
Simultaneously, the collection of mosquito samples for testing has been stepped up. The results so far are highly reassuring. As of Thursday noon, all mosquito samples processed by the Molecular Entomology and Parasite Management Laboratory of FORTH (ITE) have tested negative and are not infected by any pathogen.
Mr. Papadakis noted, “According to reports from the FORTH laboratory, in areas with a high presence of birds, the mosquito samples currently show no signs of infection, which explains why we have not seen further widespread transmission.”
As an additional precaution, temporary deferral measures have been placed on blood donations in the traced areas, and any suspicious human cases are being rigorously tested.
The situation in Crete is part of a broader period of increased West Nile Virus circulation across Greece, with the majority of cases concentrated in the Attica region, followed by Thessaly.
According to EODY, there have been 290 domestically acquired cases diagnosed and reported so far, including 58 new cases, with 24 fatalities. Of the 290 cases, 199 presented with neurological manifestations, 91 had milder symptoms, and 32 patients are currently hospitalized in Intensive Care Units nationwide.
In Crete, the three cases were recorded within the last week. Health experts emphasize that the local epidemiological picture remains good, though authorities are maintaining a high level of alert and have intensified monitoring protocols.
