Surveillance for West Nile, Dengue, and Chikungunya Virus Infections, Veneto Region, Italy, 2010

Federico Gobbi

, Luisa Barzon, Gioia Capelli, Andrea Angheben, Monia Pacenti, Giuseppina Napoletano, Cinzia Piovesan, Fabrizio Montarsi, Simone Martini, Roberto Rigoli, Anna M. Cattelan, Roberto Rinaldi, Mario Conforto, Francesca Russo, Giorgio Palù, Zeno Bisoffi, and the Veneto Summer Fever Study Group

Author affiliations: Ospedale Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria, Negrar, Verona, Italy (F. Gobbi, A. Angheben, Z. Bisoffi); Università di Padova, Padua, Italy (L. Barzon, M. Pacenti, G. Palù); Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua (G. Capelli, F. Montarsi); Unità Locale Sanitaria 20–Regione Veneto, Verona (G. Napoletano); Unità Locale Sanitaria 9–Treviso, Treviso, Italy (C. Piovesan); Entostudio, Brugine, Padua (S. Martini); Ospedale Cà Foncello, Treviso (R. Rigoli); Ospedale di Rovigo, Rovigo, Italy (A. M. Cattelan); Ospedale di Padova, Padua (R. Rinaldi); Ospedale San Bortolo, Vicenza, Italy (M. Conforto); Regione Veneto–Servizio Promozione e Sviluppo Igiene e Sanità Pubblica, Venice, Italy (F. Russo)

Abstract

In 2010, in Veneto Region, Italy, surveillance of summer fevers was conducted to promptly identify autochthonous cases of West Nile fever and increase detection of imported dengue and chikungunya in travelers. Surveillance highlighted the need to modify case definitions, train physicians, and when a case is identified, implement vector control measures

In 2010, a special surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was initiated in the Veneto Region of northeastern Italy. The surveillance had 2 main objectives. First, we aimed to increase the detection rate of imported chikungunya and dengue in travelers from areas to which these diseases are endemic, including in new immigrants and settled immigrants visiting relatives and friends, and to promptly identify potential autochthonous cases. Second, we aimed to detect autochthonous cases of West Nile fever (WNF) and West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND), which were already included in regular surveillance, to acquire a more reliable picture of disease transmission in the region.

The Study

In accordance with the study protocol, possible cases detected by general physicians and emergency department physicians had to be referred within 24 hours to the closest Unit of Infectious or Tropical Diseases. Serum samples from persons with possible cases were sent to the regional reference laboratory (Padua, Italy) for confirmation. If neuroinvasive disease was present, the specific protocol for WNND was followed (1).