Journalist Antonis Panoutsos is going through a difficult period and is being treated in critical condition at “Evangelismos” Hospital.

According to information from protothema.gr, the 78-year-old journalist arrived at the hospital’s Emergency Department 25 days ago with serious symptoms, including a high fever.

His clinical condition was suggestive of encephalitis, and laboratory tests showed that he had contracted West Nile virus.

He has remained in the ICU ever since, with his condition described as very serious.

Antonis Panoutsos was born in Piraeus in 1948 and is one of the most recognizable and distinctive figures in Greek sports journalism, with a career spanning more than five decades across newspapers, magazines, radio and television. During his career, he worked for leading newspapers, magazines and television stations, including the Lambrakis Press Group, Mega, SKAI and Alpha.

He also created and participated in numerous radio and television programs. A particularly notable part of his career was his collaboration with Antonis Karpetopoulos. The two Antonises formed a distinctive duo in Greek sports journalism, notably through the program Tora, Tora, Tora and their appearances on Athlitiki Kyriaki, leaving their mark on televised sports discussion.

In 2018, he also entered politics, standing as a candidate in the national elections with New Democracy, although he was not elected.

Deaths and cases of West Nile virus

It is noted that, during 2026, as of August 19, 13 deaths had been recorded among patients infected with the virus who developed central nervous system symptoms and were over the age of 65. The median age of those who died was 82, with an age range of 66 to 91.

Meanwhile, a total of 157 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed and reported in Greece. Of these, 116 cases involved central nervous system manifestations, including encephalitis, meningitis and/or acute flaccid paralysis, while 41 cases involved mild symptoms or no central nervous system manifestations.

Most cases continue to be recorded in Eastern Attica, although the infection is present in most regions of the country.