“The situation in Fano”, where a huge outbreak of Dengue is occurring, “is quite serious. The virus and above all the mosquitoes that transmit it must absolutely be contained. The confirmed cases of Dengue have exceeded 100 in a municipality of average magnitude. It is alarming above all because there is obviously a fear that it could spread outside of this area. This is the analysis of Sara Epis, associate professor of parasitology at the University of Milan, who explains to Adnkronos Salute what measures are implemented in these scenarios and the time needed to see the first signs of improvement.
“The Municipality and the authorities are taking steps to disinfest the entire city territory, with night-time disinfestation interventions through specialized companies, and others will certainly be carried out. Also very important – the expert points out – is all the monitoring activity that they are doing in collaboration with the Zooprophylactic Institute, which in this case is conducted throughout the city to monitor the presence of any infected mosquitoes through capture with traps. In addition to these actions implemented by the Municipality to contain the spread of mosquitoes, as always the citizen’s contribution is important to reduce buckets, wells, saucers with water and stagnation in general which can favor the spread of mosquitoes”.
How long will it last? “These interventions that are being carried out are certainly very effective and greatly reduce the larval development sites of mosquitoes, as do the adulticidal interventions, which reduce the adult “insects” which then go on to lay their eggs – reflects Epis – Certainly they will have an effect that we hope to see in the short term, also associated with the fact that the reproductive activity of the tiger mosquito (it is Aedes Albopictus, which transmits Dengue) should end at the end of October. The arrival of the cold will greatly reduce the presence of mosquitoes, although these are areas where an extension linked to the mild climate that autumn is offering us cannot be ruled out.”
“Small collections of water, both natural and artificial”, are enough for the tiger mosquito to reproduce, reiterates the parasitologist, “so it is really important to reduce these areas, such as watering cans, saucers and so on, preventing it from being able to lay its eggs. I given that in Fano, kits are sold in pharmacies “at controlled prices” which can help to control the presence of mosquitoes a little, using larvicides, repellent sprays and disinfectant pens. This is also being done. As also highlighted by virologists and infectious disease specialists, “the virus must be contained – confirms Epis – We must certainly limit the spread of these cases” of Dengue “and avoid the risk of expansion” of the outbreak.
The infectious disease specialist Matteo Bassetti also hypothesized a possible vaccination. “There is a vaccine marketed in Italy against Dengue since the beginning of this year, which is actually administered to people who go to endemic countries and stay there for some time. It could also be administered in these areas, precisely to avoid these particular expansions as happened in the municipality of Fano”, observes the expert.
What favored the huge outbreak? “From comparisons with colleagues also from Central Italy – reports Epis – I do not see that particular situations have been highlighted, that it has been a year particularly rich in mosquitoes in the Central area. In my opinion there are now 3 factors: certainly in general c ‘there is an abundance of tiger mosquitoes, perhaps few disinfestations were carried out before, plus there is also the mild climate which favors the spread in this season, as happened last year” also in other areas, ” there have been such cases.”
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