West Nile Virus: Tuscany Monitoring, No Cases Reported

As Italy records its seventh death from West Nile virus since the beginning of the year, health authorities across the country are stepping up surveillance and mosquito control efforts. Most of the recent fatalities have occurred in Lazio and Campania, where the virus continues to circulate actively. Nationwide, 31 provinces have temporarily suspended blood donations or implemented additional screening tests, in response to the virus’s rare but documented ability to spread through transfusion.

In Tuscany, no human cases have been reported so far in 2025. However, regional health authorities have confirmed that protocols are in place for monitoring and early intervention, based on experiences from previous years when outbreaks were detected. The regional health department is working in coordination with local prevention units and municipalities to ensure rapid disinfestation actions if needed.

West Nile virus is an arboviral infection transmitted primarily by Culex mosquitoes, which become carriers after feeding on infected birds—mainly migratory species but also some resident populations. While many human infections are asymptomatic or mild, the virus can cause severe neurological complications in vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions.

An additional challenge comes from what scientists call “transovarial transmission”: infected female mosquitoes can pass the virus directly to their offspring through their eggs. This mechanism allows the virus to persist in local mosquito populations even in the absence of infected birds, especially in warmer months. With climate change extending the reproductive season of mosquitoes well into autumn, this has become a growing concern for public health officials.

Veterinary services and public health units across Italy are actively engaged in surveillance programs, collecting samples from horses—considered sentinel animals due to their susceptibility to neurological symptoms—and monitoring wild bird populations. Horses can develop severe illness, and their infections often serve as an early warning of wider environmental circulation of the virus.

In areas where cases have been confirmed, disinfestation campaigns have been launched. Authorities are also urging the public to take preventive measures such as avoiding stagnant water, using insect repellents, and wearing long sleeves and trousers during dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Demand for anti-mosquito products has surged, particularly in the province of Rome, where pharmacies have reported a notable increase in sales.

Although the current wave of infections remains in line with patterns from previous years, Italian health authorities stress the importance of not underestimating the risk. With no specific treatments or vaccines currently available for West Nile virus in humans, prevention and vector control remain the most effective tools to reduce transmission.

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