Genoa hospitals face overcrowding and infectious disease surges

Hospitals in Genoa are facing significant operational and clinical challenges. At the Galliera Hospital, severe overcrowding led to a situation where twelve ambulances were forced to wait for hours, temporarily removing emergency crews from service. This congestion is attributed to 'boarding'—a phenomenon where patients awaiting ward placement remain in emergency departments, preventing new arrivals from being processed.

Simultaneously, the San Martino Hospital has reported a series of critical infectious disease cases. Matteo Bassetti, Director of Infectious Diseases, described a 'black day' for the Liguria region following the admission of three high-severity patients: a 39-year-old with severe measles complications in intensive care, a 66-year-old with an autochthonous West Nile virus infection in resuscitation, and a 19-year-old suffering from group B meningococcal meningitis. Bassetti emphasized that these cases highlight a critical need for improved vaccination and prevention efforts.