The cases of Dengue recorded this year in Italy are close to 200. “From January 1st to May 13th 2024, to the national surveillance system there are 197 confirmed cases of Dengue, all associated with travel abroad“, with “no deaths”. The median age of the infected, 52% male, is 43 years. This is reported by the new bulletin of the Higher Institute of Health. Compared to the previous one, which reported 117 cases from January 1st to April 8th, they are therefore counted 80 new infections.
Dengue cases and age groups
There Italian regions that have so far recorded more cases of Dengue are Lazio (38 infections), Veneto (37) and Lombardy (31). Emilia Romagna has 25 cases, Piedmont 19 and Tuscany 16. The other regions follow at a distance. The age group most affected by the virus transmitted by mosquitoes is 30-39 years old; followed by the 40-49 year olds, the 50-59 year old group and the 20-29 year old group. The vast majority of cases are imported from South Americaaffected by a record Dengue epidemic, particularly from Brazil and Argentina.
The Higher Institute of Health underlines that “in the first quarter of 2024, the number of reports of confirmed Dengue virus cases increased approximately 6 times compared to the same period in 2023. This increase is consistent with the widespread increase in dengue virus transmission globally in recent years.”
In the bulletin the ISS also reports “4 confirmed cases of Zika virus (all associated with travel abroad, no deaths); 4 confirmed cases of Chikungunya (all associated with travel abroad, no deaths); 5 confirmed cases of infection neuro-invasive – Tbe (all native, no deaths); no cases of Toscana virus”.
Advice for travellers
“We advise those undertaking international travel to check whether transmission” of Dengue virus “is known in the areas visited and to adopt all recommended prevention measures. Upon returning to Italy, if symptoms appear, we recommend that you quickly contact your doctor”. Anna Teresa Palamara, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Higher Institute of Health, recommends this, commenting on the new Dengue bulletin released by the Iss.
“The local transmission of Dengue in Italy, as in other European countries, is a rare event”, underlines the specialist. “The majority of cases are contracted abroad. However, climatic conditions and the presence of a mosquito capable of transmitting the virus make transmission possible in some months of the year, in the context of high circulation in many countries around the world “.
“Attention towards this infection is high in our country – assures Palamara – with careful monitoring of the cases diagnosed in Italy by the Regions/PAs, the Ministry of Health and the Higher Institute of Health”.
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