Milan, Aug. 14 (LaPresse) – In Italy, confirmed human cases of West Nile virus infection have risen to 275, more than 100 more than the 173 reported in the previous bulletin, with 19 deaths. This is according to the fifth surveillance bulletin published today by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). Among the confirmed cases, 126 presented in the neuroinvasive form (6 in Piedmont, 7 in Lombardy, 5 in Veneto, 1 in Friuli Venezia Giulia, 4 in Emilia-Romagna, 47 in Lazio, 50 in Campania, 1 in Basilicata, 3 in Calabria, and 2 in Sardinia), 20 were asymptomatic cases identified in blood donors, 125 were fever cases, 2 asymptomatic cases, and 2 symptomatic cases. Nineteen deaths have been reported (1 in Piedmont, 1 in Lombardy, 8 in Lazio, 8 in Campania, 1 in Calabria). The number of provinces with proven WNV circulation has risen to 52 (from 42 in the previous bulletin), spanning 15 regions: Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, and Sardinia. The case fatality rate, calculated on the neuroinvasive forms reported and confirmed so far, stands at 15.1% (20% in 2018, 14% in 2024). “The spread of cases, which until now has mainly affected Lazio and Campania, is expanding into endemic areas of the northern Italian regions where we record human cases every year,” explain ISS experts from the Department of Infectious Diseases.