The latest reported cases of West Nile virus are in Novara, Vicenza, and Piacenza. Three cases have been reported on the island, with one patient in serious condition admitted to the intensive care unit at the Santissima Trinità hospital .

However, the spread is expanding, as the Italian National Institute of Health explains in its most recent bulletin. " The peak is usually reached in August , as evidenced by data from previous years, although it is difficult to predict the exact trend in the number of infections, which can depend on numerous factors, including environmental and climatic ones."

There's a lot of talk about this fever, a bird disease transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes, and alarm is rising . "The real emergency is in the province of Latina; in Sardinia so far, there have only been three official cases, in the Oristano area and surrounding areas," warns Sergio Pili, a specialist in hygiene and public health and director of the San Gavino hospital. "In short, there's no need to worry for now. And if a mosquito bites us, let's not immediately assume the worst. For example, a situation that occurred here involved a forty-year-old blood donor. By chance, it was discovered that he was positive for the virus , but he's perfectly fine; he didn't even know it."

Regarding prevention, in Sardinia – explains Dr. Pili – "many mayors are signing ordinances with prevention regulations and requesting extraordinary spraying of pesticides where there are outbreaks among animals ." The municipalities already on alert are Gesturi, Sanluri, Villamar, Barumini, Busachi, Tutti, Setzu, Zeddiani, Bosa, and Arzachena , and new ones are being added every day.

The full article is available on newsstands and on the L'Unione Sarda app.

© Riproduzione riservata