In a statement, the ECDC said: “Since the beginning of the 2020 transmission season and as of 9 July 2020, EU Member States had reported one human case in Romania. No cases have been reported from EU countries and neighbouring countries since and so far, no deaths have been reported.”

Cases of West Nile virus are usually reported during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat the virus in people; however, most people infected with the virus do not feel sick. About one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms and about one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

So, while Covid-19 remains an issue for travellers within the EU, cases of West Nile virus do not pose a risk at this time – a rare piece of good news for tourists and their insurers!