West Nile virus: 28 cases in Lazio, the virus on the outskirts of Rome. Preventive measures strengthened.

West Nile virus has reached the outskirts of Rome . Two cases have been recorded in the province, on the southern coast in the Anzio and Nettuno areas. Seven new cases have been reported in the entire Lazio region, confirmed by tests conducted at the Virology Laboratory of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS.

Of the 7 new cases, 2 have neurological syndrome and 5 have WN fever.

With these latest findings , the diagnostic confirmations of positive West Nile Virus infection in 2025 rise to 28 , registered in the province of Latina (26 total cases, including the patient who died last week at the hospital in Fondi) and in the province of Rome (2 cases).

Of the 28 confirmed cases of West Nile virus: 11 patients are currently hospitalized in ordinary wards for other conditions; 3 have been discharged; 11 are being treated at home; 2 patients are hospitalized in intensive care ; and 1 death.

In the province of Latina, the municipalities of presumed exposure are Aprilia, Cisterna di Latina, Fondi, Latina, Pontinia, Priverno, Sezze, and Sabaudia.

In the province of Rome, the municipalities of presumed exposure are Anzio and Nettuno.

The steering committee, composed of the Lazio Region, the INMI Spallanzani, the Zooprophylactic Institute of Lazio and Tuscany, and the competent local health authorities, met yesterday. The next bulletin will be issued on Monday, July 28.

"No need to be alarmed, but we need to be careful and use common sense to care for our children." This is the appeal made by Vincenzo Tipo, director of the Emergency Pediatrics, Emergency Room, and Sub-Intensive Care Unit at the Santobono Children's Hospital in Naples, regarding cases of West Nile virus in some areas of Italy, particularly in southern Lazio but also in Campania. "In most cases," Tipo points out, "the virus is asymptomatic or presents as a mild flu. However, in young children and vulnerable individuals, a little extra attention is needed, without panic." On its social media channels, the Santobono-Pausilipon Aorn Hospital, Southern Italy's leading pediatric hospital and a highly specialized center, outlines "5 simple steps to protect little ones: avoid walking at dawn and dusk (critical times for mosquitoes); dress children in light-colored, covering clothing, especially in green or humid areas; use mosquito nets on cots, cribs, strollers, and windows; apply pediatric-appropriate repellents (if recommended); eliminate standing water (plant saucers, buckets, unused fountains)."

West Nile Virus in Italy - What is it? (Ministry of Health)

It is an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes , particularly those of the Culex pipiens genus , which primarily affects wild birds. Mosquitoes become infected by biting birds and sometimes transmit the virus to accidental hosts such as horses and humans. The mosquito that transmits West Nile virus is not the tiger mosquito, but rather our nocturnal common mosquito, which bites from dusk to dawn. Other possible transmission routes include blood transfusions and organ transplants from infected donors, and even more rarely, congenital infections transmitted from mother to fetus through human milk have been reported.

West Nile Virus in Italy - Symptoms (Ministry of Health)

Most infected people show no symptoms . Of those who do show symptoms, about 20% experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes. These symptoms can last a few days, or in rare cases, a few weeks, and can vary greatly depending on the person's age.

West Nile Virus in Italy - Recommendations (Ministry of Health)

A mild fever is more common in children, while symptoms in young people include moderately high fever, red eyes, headache, and muscle aches. In the elderly and debilitated, however, symptoms can be more severe. The most severe symptoms occur in an average of less than 1% of infected people (1 in 150) and include high fever, severe headache, muscle weakness, disorientation, tremors, vision changes, numbness, convulsions, and even paralysis and coma. Some neurological effects may be permanent.

A ministerial circular, announced in recent days, has been sent to the regions. Also addressed to medical associations and animal health institutions, it calls for "strengthening surveillance of human cases of West Nile virus and Usutu virus infection" and "all integrated veterinary surveillance activities." An operational meeting with 290 doctors was organized by the Spallanzani Institute.

To prevent the virus from being transmitted through transfusions, the National Blood Center (CNS) has recommended testing for West Nile virus (WNI) as an alternative to a 28-day temporary suspension of donations for all donors who have spent even one night in areas affected by the virus. CNS Director Luciana Teofili assures that donations are "safe." This is thanks to the measures in place, which also include specific testing of blood bags collected in provinces where the virus is circulating. This surveillance system has also allowed approximately 230 cases of West Nile virus infection to be detected among the donor population between 2020 and 2024.

The first measure, however, is to contain the vectors, namely mosquitoes. The number of asymptomatic cases, infectious disease specialists warn, is certainly underestimated. Heavy rains followed by heatwaves and bird migration routes, explains the Society of Preventive Veterinary Medicine , have favored West Nile outbreaks in various regions. The Network of Zooprophylactic Institutes is also on the front line , carrying out constant monitoring of animals carrying the virus, namely equines and birds.