Lombardy Reports Two New West Nile Virus Cases; Surveillance System Detailed
Lombardy has confirmed two new autochthonous cases of West Nile Virus (WNV), transmitted by mosquito bites. The affected individuals are a 38-year-old woman in Milan and a 66-year-old woman in Pavia. Currently, only the patient in Pavia is hospitalized, according to data provided to Ansa by the Lombardy Region.
The region’s strategy for monitoring and controlling WNV involves a coordinated effort between the regional government, local health authorities (ATS), municipalities, and the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. Veterinary departments of the ATS are crucial in entomological surveillance, monitoring wild fauna and equids. In selected locations, identified by entomologists and characterized by stable georeferenced positions, CO2-based traps without light are deployed to capture vector species.
Mosquitoes collected bi-weekly are identified by species and grouped into pools for molecular analysis at the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute. Upon the initial detection of the virus in a trap, restrictive measures are immediately implemented. These measures include controls on donated blood, organs, and tissues within the province where the trap is located and in neighboring provinces up to a 5-kilometer radius.
West Nile Cases Typically Peak Post-Mid-August
The number of West Nile virus cases in Italy is currently on the rise, with a peak anticipated after mid-August, followed by a subsequent decline, according to Antonello Maruotti, a statistics professor at Lumsa University. He noted in a video interview with Rainews.it that Lazio and Campania have been the most affected regions this year, contrasting with previous years where Emilia Romagna and Veneto experienced higher case numbers.
Maruotti highlighted that WNV is not a new concern, citing over 550 cases in 2018 and more than 460 cases the following year. He explained that historically, WNV cases were often concentrated in Emilia Romagna, Veneto, and parts of the Po Valley. This year, the focus has shifted primarily to the province of Latina in the Lazio region and Campania. Based on historical data, Maruotti predicts that cases will continue to increase in the coming weeks, with a typical trend showing a rise from mid-july, reaching its peak between the second and third weeks of August, and than rapidly decreasing thereafter.
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