West Nile virus: 89 cases in Italy since the beginning of the year, 57 more in a week.

"Confirmed cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans in Italy have risen to 89," according to the bulletin published today by the Italian National Institute of Health. Compared to last week's report (32 cases), there are 57 more infections. Eight deaths have been reported to the ISS so far.

"Among the cases confirmed since the beginning of surveillance until July 30," the report states, "40 manifested themselves in the neuroinvasive form (2 Piedmont, 1 Lombardy, 3 Veneto, 1 Emilia Romagna, 23 Lazio, 10 Campania), 2 asymptomatic cases identified in blood donors (1 Veneto, 1 Campania), 46 cases of fever (1 Lombardy, 5 Veneto, 35 Lazio, 4 Campania, 1 Sardinia) and 1 asymptomatic case (1 Campania). Eight deaths were reported (1 Piedmont, 2 Lazio, 5 Campania)."

"The number of provinces with demonstrated WNV circulation has risen to 31, belonging to 10 regions: Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Abruzzo, Campania, Puglia, and Sardinia," lists the ISS.