Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Greece: An Infodemiology Study with Entomological and Citizen-Science Perspectives

Mosquito-borne diseases remain a relevant public health concern in Greece, where surveillance, preparedness, risk communication, and blood safety measures may be affected during periods of increased transmission or imported case detection. This retrospective ecological infodemiology study explored associations between official human mosquito-borne disease data in Greece and digital information-seeking activity during 2024–2025. Official epidemiological data were obtained from the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY). Google Trends Relative Search Volume (RSV) values and Greek-language Wikipedia pageviews were extracted for predefined mosquito-borne disease indicators. Inferential analysis focused on West Nile virus (WNV). In 2024, Greece recorded 220 domestic and 6 imported WNV cases, with 35 deaths. Monthly domestic WNV cases showed significant positive associations with Google Trends RSV for both “ιός του Δυτικού Νείλου” (Spearman rho = 0.694, p = 0.012; Pearson r = 0.920, p < 0.001) and “West Nile virus” (Spearman rho = 0.897, p < 0.001; Pearson r = 0.951, p < 0.001), and with Greek-language Wikipedia pageviews for “ιός του Δυτικού Νείλου” (Spearman rho = 0.758, p = 0.004; Pearson r = 0.917, p < 0.001). Local surveillance data from Crete additionally documented human events, vector presence, winter mosquito activity, and negative molecular testing of examined mosquito samples. Digital attention indicators showed their clearest and most epidemiologically coherent pattern for WNV. These findings support cautious use of digital attention indicators as complementary measures of public attention and situational awareness.