Rome, 13 Aug. (LaPresse) – From the start of the year to 12 August, 226 confirmed cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans have been reported in Italy (141 in the previous report), of which 102 presented as the neuro-invasive form (1 case imported from the Maldives), 38 asymptomatic cases identified in blood donors, 86 cases of fever (1 imported case from Burkina Faso). This information was released by the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS). Among the confirmed cases, 7 deaths were reported (1 death in an imported case). During the same period, 8 cases of Usutu virus were reported (5 in Lombardy, 1 in Emilia-Romagna, 1 in Marche, 1 in Lazio). This is stated in the surveillance bulletin coordinated by the ISS. Last year, during the same period, 275 cases were reported, with 25 deaths. The number of provinces with confirmed circulation of WNV has risen to 55, spread across 16 regions (compared with 52 in 15 regions during the same period in 2025): Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Apulia, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia.
West Nile, ISS: “226 confirmed cases and seven deaths since the start of 2026”
Rome, 13 Aug. (LaPresse) – From the start of the year to 12 August, 226 confirmed cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans have been reported in Italy (141 in the previous report), of which 102 presented as the neuro-invasive form (1 case imported from the Maldives), 38 asymptomatic cases identified in blood donors, 86 cases of fever (1 imported case from Burkina Faso). This information was released by the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS). Among the confirmed cases, 7 deaths were reported (1 death in an imported case). During the same period, 8 cases of Usutu virus were reported (5 in Lombardy, 1 in Emilia-Romagna, 1 in Marche, 1 in Lazio). This is stated in the surveillance bulletin coordinated by the ISS. Last year, during the same period, 275 cases were reported, with 25 deaths. The number of provinces with confirmed circulation of WNV has risen to 55, spread across 16 regions (compared with 52 in 15 regions during the same period in 2025): Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Apulia, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia.