Whole genome sequencing of West Nile Virus for epidemiological surveillance in Andalusia (Spain)

In August 2020 an outbreak of West Nile Virus(WNV) affected 71 people with meningoencephalitis in Andalusia and 6 more cases in Extremadura (south-west of Spain), causing a total of eight deaths. The virus belonged to the lineage 1 and was relatively similar to previous outbreaks occurred in the Mediterranean region. Since then, new human cases have been detected anually, including an infection with a virus from lineage 2 in 2024. This study contains WNV whole genome sequences from cases spanning 2020 to 2024 and will continue to incorporate future cases as part of the ongoing epidemiological surveillance of this virus in Andalusia. These sequences are included into the integrated genomic surveillance system of Andalusia (SIEGA).