Genomic Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Paris - PubMed

5 days ago

West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 (WNV-L2) was detected for the first time in the Paris metropolitan area in July 2025.
The study aimed to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of WNV circulation in France from 2022 to 2025 and trace the origin of the virus in Paris.
Genomic epidemiology combined human, veterinary, and entomological monitoring with viral genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
52 WNV-positive samples (6 human, 21 veterinary, and 25 entomological) were analyzed, revealing WNV-L2 as the only lineage in France during the study period.
The 2025 Paris outbreak strains originated from the South Atlantic area (2023-2024), showing local maintenance and long-distance dispersal of the virus.
The study emphasizes the need for strengthened genomic surveillance to anticipate viral spread and protect at-risk populations.

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