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Malaria, eradicated in Greece since 1974, remains eliminated despite annual imported cases, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) reported. Greece sees 20 to 110 imported malaria cases yearly, involving travelers infected abroad, a trend consistent across developed countries amid increased global travel. Malaria remains endemic in 83 countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Between 2009 and 2021, sporadic locally transmitted malaria cases occurred almost annually, mostly in rural areas, linked to infections from imported cases. The exception was 2011-2012, when clusters emerged in Laconia. No local transmission has been reported in the past three years (2022–2024), although imported cases numbered 31, 32, and 35 respectively.
Malaria is spread by infected Anopheles mosquitoes, which are common in Greece along with Culex mosquitoes, vectors for the West Nile virus. West Nile virus has become established in Greece over the last 15 years, with cases reported yearly during summer and autumn. This year, four cases emerged in the Athens suburbs of Aspropyrgos, Korydallos, and Salamina, all hospitalized with encephalitis or meningoencephalitis but since discharged.
EODY cautioned that the virus’s spread is unpredictable and urged citizens nationwide to protect themselves against mosquito bites. One West Nile virus case has also been reported this year in Romania.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is monitoring mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile, chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses. Key mosquito vectors in Europe include Aedes albopictus, which transmits dengue, chikungunya, and Zika; Aedes aegypti, recently reappeared in Cyprus; and Culex, the primary vector for West Nile virus.
