West Nile alert in North Macedonia: Health authorities have declared a West Nile fever outbreak across Skopje and five surrounding municipalities, with 26 confirmed cases by Aug. 11, four more under testing, and one death reported; officials say there’s no need for panic but urge mosquito-bite protection since there’s no vaccine and most infections cause no symptoms. West Nile surge across Europe: Greece is reporting a sharp rise, with 45 new cases in a week bringing totals to 110 and nine deaths so far, while Attica accounts for about 70% of Greek cases; ECDC is urging people to take bite-avoidance steps as transmission can run into October. Water safety scare in Skopje: A bottled-water rush followed rumours of E. coli contamination, prompting Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski to publicly drink tap water and call the claims misinformation, while pointing to controlled testing around the Rašče spring. Smoking policy claim (Turkey): Turkey’s health minister says the country ranks second worldwide in smoking, citing cigarette sales and OECD-linked comparisons, as the government prepares further anti-smoking measures. Cross-border medical access dispute: Bulgarian MEPs and foreign ministry officials are pressing EU and regional channels over Iva Mihailova’s denied travel for urgent treatment, highlighting the health and legal stakes for her neurological condition.