After the various cases that hit northern Italy in the summer, in particular the Veneto with 4 deaths in 5 days in July, West Nile Fever has also arrived in Campania.
To date, in Italy the Nile Fever has, in fact, caused 28 deaths and 551 infected.
To transmit the pathogen is the mosquito bite, in particular those of the genus Culex, while the reservoir vector of infection are wild birds, in which the pathogen is "preserve"Without leading to the death of the animal.
The pathogen arrived in Campania with the first officially ascertained case, currently under investigation by the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of the South of Portici.
It is precisely here that the positivity of the samples of the deceased horse was ascertained, later confirmed by the National Reference Center.
Have all the control mechanisms been activated? What is being done?
Following the found positivity all containment mechanisms have been activated and isolation of the disease by the Crisis Unit of the Campania Region, with sampling on the equine population of the region and on the chain of human contacts relating to the Castelvolturno outbreak.
We had no cases of this disease in Campania. We have activated all the mechanisms of isolation and containment of the disease.
Antonio Limone, director of the Zooprophylactic Institute
Sampling operations are starting to ascertain any other positivity on equidae, poultry and mosquitoes present in the area and on the people involved in the outbreak and a disinfestation action for mosquitoes. In this way we will prevent the spread of this disease which in Italy has already caused 28 deaths and 551 infected. We are on alert, the activated epidemic surveillance network will tend to contain the outbreak in order to prevent its spread
Why is the death of a horse concerned?
West Nile virus (WNV) can infect both humans and equines leading them to fever that can cause their death, while it is totally asymptomatic in other species that result as reservoirs, such as birds, or occasional hosts.
The death of a horse is therefore a worrying sign, as the disease has a very similar trend between them and our species and the contagiousness is quite high.
The causes and how Nile fever is transmitted
As already mentioned, the infection is transmitted from the bite of mosquitoes of the genus Culex, and awaits in its reservoir hosts, the wild birds until the final host, which in mammals is us humans and horses (or rather all equines).
What is a tank host
The reservoir hosts are a very important aspect in infectious diseases, as, especially with lethal viruses, those infected could recover or die before having infected a sufficient number of vectors and this would lead to the "death" of the pathogen because the possibility to have new infections.
The reservoir hosts therefore become fundamental: they do not die, have no symptoms and transmit the pathogen.
Symptoms of Nile fever
No panic and no distress. Nile fever, in fact, in most cases it is totally asymptomatic!
In fact, only 20% of patients develops a parainfluenza syndrome, with symptoms therefore more significant but comparable to an ordinary flu, and only in this case, in fact, we speak of Nile fever.
Also after infection, immunity is very long-lasting, it can even last For all life of the individual.
The most frequent symptoms
- Moderate to high fever
- Muscle and joint pains
- State of weakness
- Headache (headache)
- Anorexia
- Nausea
- Threw up
The elderly and immunosuppressed population it is the one most at risk, as happened with Covid-19 and also the seasonal flu. Unlike Covid, young children are also at risk of a more serious manifestation.
The most serious cases
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Flaccid paralysis (also called neuro-invasive Nile fever)
In these the course it can be fatal, with a mortality range ranging from 3 to 15% of cases of this severity.
How Nile Fever is treated
Unfortunately there is no cure for Nile fever, it is only possible to treat its symptoms.
In the vast majority of cases the symptoms will pass spontaneously within a few days, or at most a few weeks, while the more serious ones will require hospitalization.
How to protect yourself and what to do to avoid contagion
Currently the casuistry is very limited therefore no particular action is necessary, but it is always possible to have some small precautions to feel calmer.
Unlike Covid-19, the use of masks is not necessary transmission from human to human being impossible. Recall that the vector is mosquitoes, so it is enough to protect yourself from them with repellents e mosquito nets.
