The DWHC has confirmed the first positive cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in dead wild birds in the Netherlands in 2026: three magpies and one jackdaw. These birds were found around August 10, 2026, in Rotterdam.
Since late July, the DWHC has been receiving a remarkably high number of reports regarding corvids. These reports are still coming in. Several dead animals have been collected to be tested for West Nile Virus. Reports of striking mortality among wild birds, particularly involving multiple birds or corvids, remain of great importance for continuing to investigate the situation.
First positive cases in 2026
The DWHC is conducting systematic testing for West Nile Virus in collaboration with Erasmus MC. For instance, 83 wild birds have already been tested for West Nile Virus earlier in 2026. The four birds from Rotterdam are therefore the first confirmed positive cases of WNV in wild birds in the Netherlands in 2026.
Situation in Europe
WNV has also been detected in animals in other European countries. According to international animal health reports, positive animals have been reported in 2026 in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, France, North Macedonia, Germany, and Switzerland, among others. The presence of the virus in animals is also being monitored in other European countries. Official reports of animal diseases are tracked in the WAHIS system of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
Reports regarding wild birds are important because they provide insight into the spread of the virus. Various bird species can become infected, with corvids in particular being regularly found during WNV outbreaks. The discovery of three magpies and a jackdaw in Rotterdam therefore fits the picture seen in Europe. Additionally, human cases have been reported in 12 European countries from early 2026 up to and including August 21: Italy, Greece, Romania, France, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain, Albania, Austria, Germany, Kosovo, and the Netherlands. For current information on West Nile virus in (wild) animals and humans, we refer you to the RIVM.
Help map the situation further
To better understand where WNV occurs and which bird species may be involved, it is important that unusual mortality among wild animals is reported to us.
We are particularly interested in:
- Information regarding the underlying mortality:
- Are multiple birds dead?
- Are these different species of birds?
- Photos or videos of the animal