Confirmed cases of West Nile virus infection in humans since the beginning of May have reached 237 in Italy (there were 205 in the previous bulletin).
Among these, 13 deaths were reported, of which 5 from Piedmont, 6 from Lombardy and 2 from Emilia-Romagna. This was revealed in the latest bulletin from the Higher Institute of Health updated on 13 September.
Of the 237 cases identified, 138 occurred in the neuro-invasive form (24 Piedmont, 41 Lombardy, 17 Veneto, 1 Liguria, 47 Emilia Romagna, 3 Puglia, 1 Sicily, 3 Sardinia ), 58 cases were identified in blood donors .
The first of the season was reported in July in the province of Parma. Since then, the Provinces with demonstrated circulation of the virus belonging to 9 Regions have reached 49: Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia .
Currently there is no vaccine for West Nile and the only preventive tool is the reduction of exposure to mosquito bites, during the period favorable for transmission. The incubation period varies between 2 and 14 days, but can also be 21 days.
Among symptomatic cases, approximately 20% present fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, skin manifestations. The most serious symptoms occur on average in less than 1% of infected people (1 in 150 people) and include high fever, tremors, convulsions, up to paralysis and coma.
(Unioneonline/ss)