The West Nile virus is a disease that most commonly spreads through the bite of infected mosquitoes. (File photo: CFP)

Dutch authorities said Wednesday that a patient had died from West Nile virus, which has seen a growing number of cases in Europe this year.

North Macedonia on Saturday reported its fifth death this year from the mosquito-borne virus, which in extreme cases can cause tremors, fever, comas and a lethal swelling of the brain tissue known as encephalitis.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said the Dutch case was in Utrecht province.

"The person contracted the West Nile virus in the Netherlands and died in a hospital," the RIVM said in a statement which gave no other details on the case.

"So far in 2026, there have been three cases of West Nile virus infections reported that were probably contracted in the Netherlands. It is still very unlikely for people to contract West Nile fever in the Netherlands," added the statement.

Mosquitoes can spread the virus to humans after feeding on the blood of infected birds. While it is not spread between humans, there is no vaccine or treatment for the disease.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said last week that 12 countries -- Albania, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Romania, Serbia and Spain -- had reported cases this year.

In July, the World Health Organization urged European countries to "strengthen" mosquito surveillance because of the rising number of cases.

According to the RVIM, 80 percent of human infections remain asymptomatic. Of the rest, only one percent develop serious neurological symptoms, while some contract ailments similar to the flu.