Italy, high risk of measles outbreak

At the 57th National Congress of the Scientific Society currently taking place in Palermo, Roberta Siliquini, President of the Italian Society of Hygiene (SITI), advocated for increased vigilance against the proliferation of measles, a highly contagious disease. The reduction in vaccination coverage has resulted in a substantial increase in reported cases, from an estimated 20 cases in 2023 to over 800 this year. This alarming surge in incidence elevates the likelihood of a future epidemic, comparable to the one of 2017. At the SITI Congress, the findings of an ALTMES study on the economic consequences of non-vaccination were presented. The study quantified the loss of health and increased costs in different regional contexts, highlighting the economic and social implications of expanding vaccination coverage and modalities as outlined in the National Plan for Vaccine Prevention 2023-2025. Achieving optimal levels of vaccination coverage represents a significant challenge for Italy, requiring the collective efforts of institutions and citizens, according to Eugenio Di Brino, ALTEMS researcher, co-founder, and partner of Altems Advisory at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.