Italy faces surge in West Nile and Dengue virus cases

Italy is experiencing a significant rise in mosquito-borne illnesses, specifically the West Nile virus and Dengue. Health authorities have reported multiple fatalities linked to West Nile, including an 85-year-old in Pavia and a 72-year-old in Qualiano. In the Lodi province, seven West Nile cases have been confirmed, five of which are severe neuro-invasive forms.

Local governments across various regions are responding with emergency measures. In Monza, extraordinary disinfection is underway following a suspected Dengue case. In Guidonia Montecelio, several new West Nile infections have triggered a second cycle of adulticide and larvicide treatments. Similarly, in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, new cases in Margherita di Savoia have prompted preventive disinfection in Trani and Trinitapoli.

Other affected areas include Oristano, where West Nile cases have reached 24, and Umbria, which reported both a West Nile case in Castiglione del Lago and an imported Dengue case in Perugia. In Pescara, authorities are conducting additional preventive measures during public events to ensure safety. Health officials urge citizens to eliminate standing water, use repellents, and install window screens to mitigate transmission risks.