Health Alerts

Italy: Local Malaria, Chikungunya rises. Health Authorities are investigating four Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases in the Apulia region. The cases were detected in 4 men aged 21 to 37-years-old, originally from Africa. All stated that they had been in Italy for more than three months. The risk of malaria spreading further is very low in the EU. Read more.

Italy is currently experiencing four areas of local transmission of chikungunya -in the cities of Anzio, Latina and Rome in the Lazio region, and the city of Guardavalle Marina in the Calabria region. Local transmission is possible in areas where Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are established and at a time when environmental conditions are favouring mosquito abundance and activity. The outbreak is likely the result of the virus being introduced by travellers visiting Asia. The likelihood of further spread within Italy is still moderate with suitable but less favourable conditions for mosquito activity in the coming weeks. Read more