51 new West Nile cases and 16 deaths in Italy

A total of 51 new cases of human infection with the West Nile virus were reported in Italy between September 12th and 18th. This represents a slight increase in incidence compared to the previous reporting period, with three additional deaths. These findings are outlined in the latest West Nile and Usutu Virus Integrated Surveillance Bulletin, issued by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). A total of 16 deaths have been reported among the confirmed cases (three in Piedmont, one in Lombardy, seven in Veneto, one in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, three in Emilia-Romagna, and one in Calabria). The initial autochthonous case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection during the current season was documented in Emilia-Romagna on 26 June in the province of Modena. During the same period, two cases of the Usutu virus were documented, one in the province of Modena and one in the province of Latina.