title: Large human outbreak of West Nile virus infection in north-eastern Italy in 2012.
abstract: Human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) disease have been reported in Italy since 2008. So far, most cases have been identified in north-eastern Italy, where, in 2012, the largest outbreak of WNV infection ever recorded in Italy occurred. Most cases of the 2012 outbreak were identified in the Veneto region, where a special surveillance plan for West Nile fever was in place. In this outbreak, 25 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease and 17 cases of fever were confirmed. In addition, 14 WNV RNA-positive blood donors were identified by screening of blood and organ donations and two cases of asymptomatic infection were diagnosed by active surveillance of subjects at risk of WNV exposure. Two cases of death due to WNND were reported. Molecular testing demonstrated the presence of WNV lineage 1 in all WNV RNA-positive patients and, in 15 cases, infection by the novel Livenza strain was ascertained. Surveillance in other Italian regions notified one case of neuroinvasive disease in the south of Italy and two cases in Sardinia. Integrated surveillance for WNV infection remains a public health priority in Italy and vector control activities have been strengthened in areas of WNV circulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova I-35121, Italy. luisa.barzon@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzon
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pacenti
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchin
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pagni
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lavezzo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Squarzon
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martello
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castilletti
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capobianchi
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salcuni
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cattai
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cusinato
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palù
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult