Italy: 2024 Dengue

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.barrons.com/amp/news/ita...fever-e6dbdb2b

Italy Records Year's First Indigenous Case Of Dengue Fever
Italy has recorded the first indigenous case of dengue fever for 2024 in a patient who had not travelled abroad, Italian health authorities said Thursday.
AFP - Agence France Presse
September 12, 2024

Italy has recorded the first indigenous case of dengue fever for 2024 in a patient who had not travelled abroad, Italian health authorities said Thursday.

"The person who tested positive for dengue fever is in good clinical condition," announced the provincial health authority of Brescia, in Italy's north, in a statement...

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Translation Google

Press Office

Dengue and other arboviral diseases, situation and prevention


Published 11/04/2024 - Modified 13/09/2024

From 1 January to 10 September 2024, the national surveillance system has reported:

- 412 confirmed cases of Dengue (410 associated with travel abroad and 2 autochthonous cases, median age of 40 years, 48% male and no deaths)
- 6 confirmed cases of Zika Virus (all associated with travel abroad, median age of 49 years, 50% male and no deaths)
- 12 confirmed cases of Chikungunya (all associated with travel abroad, median age of 49 years, 50% male and no deaths)
- 42 confirmed cases of neuro-invasive infection - TBE (40 autochthonous cases and 2 associated with travel abroad, median age of 54 years, 69% male and no deaths)
- 64 confirmed cases of Toscana Virus (all autochthonous, median age of 53 years, 67% male and no deaths).

For more information, see the dedicated dashboard

(The dashboard provides details only for cases of Dengue, Chikungunya TBE and Toscana Virus since, for Zika Virus, the small number of observed cases (≤5) does not allow for providing more information on individual cases in order to guarantee patient privacy).

Regarding the data provided by the integrated surveillance of West Nile and Usutu virus, the weekly bulletin reports that as of September 12, the number of human cases reported in Italy has risen to 331 and 13 deaths since the beginning of surveillance, which started in May.

Also see the page dedicated to the national surveillance of arbovirosis and periodic bulletins. On the occasion of the publication of new data on arbovirosis, EpiCentro updates the general information page on Chikungunya , some pages relating to the so-called tiger mosquito and the new section on Dengue, examining various aspects of the disease.

For more information on tick-borne diseases and their prevention, see the dedicated page .

Prevention of exposure to vectors

For the time being, the main preventive tool against the spread of arboviruses is reducing exposure to vectors during the period favorable to transmission.
As for mosquitoes, it is advisable to protect yourself from bites and prevent them from easily reproducing:
- using repellents and wearing long trousers and long-sleeved shirts when you are outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk
- using mosquito nets on windows and staying in air-conditioned environments
- frequently emptying containers with stagnant water (for example, buckets, flowerpots and saucers, basins, bins, etc.) and covering those that are not removable
- frequently changing the water in animal bowls
- emptying paddling pools when they are not in use.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dengue Virus

What is Dengue virus?
Dengue virus (DENV) is a member of the genus Orthoflavivirus, belonging to the family Flaviviridae (1,2). The virus is transmitted to humans, who are the main host, through the bite of infected mosquitoes of the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (tiger mosquito) (3). There are four distinct serotypes of Dengue virus and it is possible to become infected multiple times with different serotypes. Subsequent reinfection with a different serotype exposes the person to the risk of developing a severe, potentially fatal disease (4).

Why is it being talked about?
In 2023, more than 6 million cases and more than 6,000 deaths from dengue were reported in 92 countries/territories worldwide (https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/dengue-monthly). Globally, the Americas are the most affected, with major epidemics due to the circulation of all 4 serotypes. Also in 2024, particularly in Brazil and Argentina, tens of thousands of DENV infections were documented, which led the Italian authorities to raise the level of vigilance in ports and airports.

What is the situation in Europe and Italy?
In continental Europe (excluding territories in endemic areas for DENV), the first autochthonous cases of dengue, not associated with travel to endemic countries, were detected starting in 2010 in Croatia and France. In 2023, several episodes of autochthonous transmission were documented simultaneously in three European Union member countries with over 100 reported cases of human infection: in France (43 cases in 8 clusters), Spain (3 cases) and Italy (82 cases in at least 4 clusters). In Italy, as in the rest of Europe, dengue is mainly present as an imported disease associated with travel (in 2023 in Italy 280 confirmed cases of infection associated with international travel were reported compared to 82 autochthonous). It is important to strengthen general awareness of the risk posed by this pathogen, especially when traveling to places where the probability of contracting this disease is higher. On the other hand, it is relevant for healthcare professionals to be aware that DENV outbreaks can occur in Italy so as to consider the possibility in the diagnostic process.

What are the risks for those who get infected? Are there treatments or vaccines?
The incubation period ranges from 3 to 14 days while the average incubation period is 4-7 days. The infection can be asymptomatic in more than 50% of cases or characterized by a moderate febrile illness, dengue fever (DF), up to, in about 5% of symptomatic cases, the most serious forms. The mortality rate can in fact vary from less than 1% up to about 10-15% in severe forms.
Although it represents an intense area of scientific research and experimentation, there is no specific authorized antiviral therapy available, that is, one capable of inhibiting the replication of DENV in the infected individual. The treatment of patients in both mild and more severe forms is therefore based on symptomatic and supportive therapies.
As regards prevention, at a global level, after many years of research, experimentation and clinical trials, two tetravalent vaccines formulated with live attenuated viruses are currently available on the market, the trade names of which are DENGVAXIA and QDENGA; only the latter is marketed in Italy and is used in the field of travel medicine.

How does surveillance work?
In Italy, surveillance for dengue virus is active all year round and not only for any cases transmitted in our territory but also for the surveillance of cases contracted in endemic/epidemic countries for this disease. Transmission in Italy depends on the activity of the vector that is able to transmit the infection to humans. The period in which this activity is highest, and therefore transmission is most possible, is from spring to autumn. For this reason, surveillance is intensified in these months. The countermeasures are defined in Italy by a national plan (National Plan for Prevention, Surveillance and Response to Arbovirosis) published by the Ministry of Health which includes communication, training, surveillance, prevention of transmission through biological substances of human origin (blood, blood components, cells, tissues, organs) and vector control.

Press Room

https://www.iss.it/en/-/dengue-e-altre-arbovirosi-situazione-e-prevenzione

[tetano]

Dengue, 11 infected in the Fano area

The cases of Dengue detected in the Fano area have reached eleven: ten in the city, one in San Costanzo. An extraordinary disinfestation of the tiger mosquito starting tomorrow will involve a large part of the urban center of Fano. In fact, only one of the confirmed cases traveled to one of the tropical areas where the disease is widespread. There was therefore, most likely, transmission from native mosquitoes.
The mayor of Fano Luca Serfilippi has ordered an extraordinary disinfestation starting from the areas of Vallato, Centinarola and in the historic center. The disinfestation was supposed to start last night, but was postponed due to bad weather. During treatment, residents of the affected neighborhoods are recommended to stay indoors with windows closed and not stay in the treated areas. Fruit and vegetables grown in the area must be harvested before treatment or not consumed for the following 15 days.
The first case was that of a pregnant woman in the Centinarola district, who was then transferred to the Salesi maternal and child hospital in Ancona. For this reason, even in the regional capital, a disinfestation has been scheduled within a radius of 200 meters from the hospital: it will be carried out within 24 hours of the end of the bad weather.

https://www.rainews.it/tgr/marche/video/2024/09/tgr-marche-web-monti-dengue-14-1200-logomp4-e8c54441-701a-4749-8acd-9cc713f63ea3.html

[tetano]

Dengue, first autochtonous case in Veneto

This is a 20-year-old young man, resident in Malo, who is currently hospitalized in Vicenza but is improving. An in-depth epidemiological investigation has already been activated by the Hygiene and Public Health Service of Ulss 7 Pedemontana and specific monitoring of the tiger mosquito has been activated.
The inspection

The planned actions were implemented, such as the inspection within a 200 meter radius of the house to evaluate, with the Istituto Zooprophylattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), the presence of the tiger mosquito. An extraordinary preventative disinfestation and door-to-door activity have also been activated in the affected area, to verify whether there are risk conditions for the proliferation of the mosquito.

To date, no other indigenous cases of Dengue fever, Chikungunya, Zika virus, Usutu virus and Oropouche fever have occurred in Veneto. However, 131 autochthonous cases of West Nile virus were confirmed, of which 76 fevers, 41 neuroinvasive forms and 14 donors; 21 autochthonous cases of tick-borne encephalitis (Tbe), 9 autochthonous cases of Toscana virus and 11 autochthonous cases of Lyme disease.

https://www.ilgiornaledivicenza.it/territorio-vicentino/vicenza/dengue-primo-caso-autoctono-veneto-giovane-vicentino-1.12444223

[tetano]

Dengue, huge outbreak in Fano: 102 cases. The alarm of the experts

Maxi outbreak of dengue in Fano (Pesaro-Urbino): there are 102 confirmed cases and 10 probable ones currently recorded in the area. The Marche Region communicated this in a note, adding that other cases are also being verified which have presented compatible symptoms in recent days. From today, the kit with 10 larvicides, a repellent spray and a disinfectant pen is being distributed in municipal pharmacies at the regulated price of 15 euros (800 available in total).
The situation and the alarm of the experts

'The situation - underlines the Region - is constantly monitored'. An update meeting is planned today with the ministry and the Higher Institute of Health, in which regional and territorial representatives will participate. Furthermore, on Thursday the Regional Operational Group for Health Emergencies (Gores), a technical group made up of experts from various disciplines who also deal with epidemic health events, will meet again, having already held a first meeting in recent days.

'To prevent the disease, which is transmitted solely by mosquitoes - we remind you - all the required public health measures have been implemented. As indicated by the Ast Prevention Department, the Municipality of Fano carried out disinfestation throughout the entire urban area of Fano and initiated an intervention to eliminate the larvae. Furthermore, an information campaign has been launched to raise awareness among the resident population on how to eliminate mosquitoes in gardens and private areas: stagnant water from vases and animal bowls must be eliminated; it is recommended to wear light-coloured long sleeves and trousers, use mosquito nets on windows and use effective repellents. Some mosquito traps have been placed in the area, useful for defining the size of the population capable of transmitting the virus and any infectivity. The captured mosquitoes will be examined by the laboratory for vector-borne diseases of the Umbria and Marche Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute.

https://www.adnkronos.com/cronaca/virus-dengue-fano-oggi-cose-cosa-sappiamo-allarme-esperti_62p34yBA2gGA0BkIAyx1IV