Italy grapples with a heavy double dengue outbreak burden.
The festive period is upon us, but Dengue Fever cases are escalating in Italy. Many folks are catching the ailment abroad and returning home with it, while local transmissions are also rising. Virologist Pregliasco fills ntv.de in on the situation.
Multiple neighborhoods in Trieste, Italy, have undergone disinfection due to Dengue Fever this year. The last time, before now, was during the early hours of the 9th and 10th of June. Homeowners living on nearby streets Vicolo Salvia and Via Savi were alerted about the disinfection process happening within their streets and a 200-meter perimeter surrounding them, scheduled from 4 am to 10 am. During this period, residents were required to keep their windows and doors shut, air conditioning units switched off, and pets indoors.
There's been considerable anxiety in Italy: Will tropical diseases no longer be rare? Last year, cases of Dengue Fever close to Lake Garda drew attention. Tourists are also wondering if visiting Italy poses a higher risk now than traversing other parts of Europe.
"Definitely not," states Fabrizio Enrico Pregliasco to ntv.de. He serves as a Virologist and Professor at the University of Milan. "Dengue Fever cases surface everywhere in Europe, even in countries like Germany, Austria, and France, among others. Most of these cases originate from travelers who have contracted the disease abroad." Apart from that, the disease doesn't spread directly from one person to another. "It needs a host, in this case, numerous mosquito species." It isn't just the Tiger Mosquito that entered Europe in the 1990s that we should be concerned about.
Climate Change: A Foster Mother For New Diseases
Contracting Dengue Fever resembles having a more or less severe flu in some ways. However, the real concern lies elsewhere. "Up to 85% of infections show no symptoms," elaborates Pregliasco. For a moment, that might sound beneficial, but it's not always the case. Even if someone has already been infected, they are not invincible. In fact, the second infection can take a much more serious turn. In its severe form, which is known as hemorrhagic Dengue Fever, complications such as severe bleeding and, in extreme cases, even death may occur.
Apart from the rising prevalence of travel activities and global commerce aiding the spread of the infection, climate change also plays a significant role. It is no longer just prolonged drought periods followed by heavy rainfall and devastating storms that cause a threat, but new diseases such as Dengue Fever crop up as well.
Currently, Italy grapples with three issues related to Dengue Infection. Since most infections affect people who have been bitten abroad, the rapidly growing number of infections in Brazil and Argentina raises concern among our health authorities, says Pregliasco. The Brazilian Health Ministry has reported that the number of infected this year has surpassed five million – five times the number in 2023. "It seems the Brazilian authorities have struggled to control or eradicate the spawning of vector mosquitoes," says the Virologist.
As per the most recent report from the Italian Health Institute, a total of 362 Dengue cases were reported in Italy in 2023. Of these, 259 infections occurred from the beginning of the year up to June 13th. The Italian daily newspaper "Quotidiano Nazionale" published a map in early April revealing the geographical distribution of the then 117 infection cases. The region of Veneto appeared at the top with 24 cases, followed by Latium, including capital Rome, with 23, Lombardy with 21, Tuscany with 13, and Emilia Romagna with 12.
The second issue Italy faces is the local Dengue infections. Although most people get infected overseas, the number of those infected domestically is also growing. Of the total 362 cases last year, 82 were domestic. The current number of such cases this year remains unknown.
To curb the spread of the disease in the country, extensive disinfections are being conducted, and district-wide lockdowns are happening in Triest, like shutting down entire city sectors for a few hours. "The incubation period of the infection lasts 14 days," explains Pregliasco. "This means that an infected person needs to recall where they were during the past 14 days. After that, disinfection is carried out within a 200-meter radius."
The third issue Italy encounters, or challenge it faces, pertains to one of the infection vectors – the Egyptian Tigermosquito (Aedes aegypti), which is "much more lethal than our Tigermosquito," says the virologist. They are putting their best foot forward to keep it at bay from Europe. Italy has thus declared a warning level for planes and ships coming from endemic regions. In addition, thorough disinfections on board are necessary.
Although Dengue Fever shouldn't be dismissed lightly and the emergence of local infections should be closely watched, "a vacation in Italy remains as safe as anywhere else," asserts Pregliasco. For those who wish to remain informed before traveling, precise data can be found on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) website.
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Despite the escalating Dengue Fever cases during the holiday season, Professor Fabrizio Enrico Pregliasco from the University of Milan reassures that a vacation in Italy is as safe as anywhere else. He encourages travelers to stay informed by checking the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) website for precise data.
Considering the ongoing Dengue Fever outbreaks in Italy, it's crucial for the country's educational institutions to incorporate lessons on infectious diseases and prevention measures in their curriculum. This includes educating students about the risks of contracting diseases while traveling abroad and the importance of following health guidelines upon return. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) could potentially provide resources and guidance to help integrate these topics into the Italian education system.
