West Nile fever "arrives" in Italy - One case in the capital and two suspected cases in Latina
The first case of West Nile Fever has been confirmed in Italy and two other suspected cases are still awaiting further investigation. The infection of one patient was confirmed by the Spallanzani Institute in Rome, while test results for two others are pending. Initial findings suggest that they are two unrelated 70-year-old men from Latina, where they are being treated. According to Italian media, there is currently no cause for concern regarding the health status of the two patients.
West Nile fever is a disease caused by the West Nile virus, a virus of the Flaviviridae family first isolated in 1937 in Uganda, specifically in the West Nile district from which its name originates. The virus is widespread in Africa, Western Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas.
The reservoirs of the virus are wild birds and mosquitoes, whose bites are the main means of transmission to humans. Other documented routes of infection, although much rarer, include organ transplants, blood transfusions, and transmission from mother to child during pregnancy. West Nile fever is not transmitted from person to person through contact with infected individuals. The virus also infects other mammals, particularly horses, but in some cases also dogs, cats, rabbits, and others.
Diagnosis is mainly made through laboratory tests performed on serum to detect IgM antibodies. These antibodies can persist for very long periods in infected individuals up to a year, so a positive result in these tests may also indicate a previous infection. Samples collected within 8 days of the onset of symptoms may be negative, so it is advisable to repeat the laboratory test after a period of time before ruling out the disease. Alternatively, diagnosis can also be made through PCR or viral culture.
There is no specific treatment for West Nile fever. In most cases, symptoms resolve on their own after a few days or may persist for several weeks. In more severe cases, hospitalization is necessary, where treatments include intravenous fluids and assisted breathing.
Last year, in the summer season, the West Nile Virus also affected Albania, where three people lost their lives as a result.
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