Late last week the ECDC updated the season’s count of locally acquired dengue fever cases reported in both Italy and France, with Italy’s total sitting at 58 - ‘four clusters in the province of Lodi, Lombardy region (30), the metropolitan city of Rome (25) and in Anzio (1), in the province of Latina (2), in the Lazio region’, and in France, seven clusters have led to 36 cases in the regions of Île-de-France (first report), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Occitania and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes. The most northerly detection of autochthonous dengue in Europe is the one that occurred in Limeil-Brévannes, Île-de-France region, a SE suburb of Paris. The transmission season ends next month. From the same ECDC update, two new locations reported human West Nile virus (WNV) cases for the first time - Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in Italy and Timiş in Romania. Italy and Greece between them have recorded nearly three-quarters of the region’s confirmed WNV infections, repeating last year’s high rates. Read more
Advice for travellers
West Nile virus is endemic in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean basin, with epidemics regularly reported in summer and autumn since the 1950s. Most human WNV infections (70-80%) are mild, subclinical or asymptomatic, but around 1-in-150 cases involve potentially severe neuroinvasive disease. The virus is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, which feed mainly around dawn and dusk. While the risk of infection for most travellers is generally low, those visiting regions reporting human cases, particularly the peak transmission season, should take measures to avoid mosquito bites. Europe’s outbreaks are not as severe or widespread as in other regions where the virus occurs, notably North America. Read more on WNV.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.