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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
