Ob Beach holiday on Lake GardaHike IM Trentino Or a city trip to Milan or Rome – Italy is one of the most popular for many Germans Travel destinations in summer. However, the holiday country is currently being overshadowed by a wave of illnesses: More and more regions are reporting infections with the West Nil virus-some of them with a fatal course. What is behind the virus and whether too Lake Garda is affected, read here.
How is the West Nil virus transmitted?
Table of Contents
- 1. How is the West Nil virus transmitted?
- 2. How does the West Nil virus express itself?
- 3. Deaths in Italy: How dangerous is the West Nil virus?
- 4. Lake Garda: What do vacationers need to know about the West Nil virus?
- 5. What are the key mosquito vectors involved in West Nile Virus transmission around Lake Garda?
- 6. west Nile Virus Surveillance on Lake Garda: Assessing Its Presence and Impact
- 7. Understanding West Nile Virus (WNV) & its Vectors
- 8. Lake Garda: A Unique Ecological Setting & Risk Factor
- 9. Current Surveillance Programs & Methodologies
- 10. Recent Findings & WNV Activity Around Lake Garda (2023-2024)
- 11. Impact on Public Health & Veterinary Medicine
According to information from Robert Koch Institute (RKI) As a rule, the west-Nil virus occurs in wild birds and can be transferred further via the sting of local mosquitoes of the genus Culex. If a mosquito stabs an infected bird, the virus can open up Other mammals Translated if these are also stung from the mosquito. According to the RKI, this should occur especially for horses – but people can also infect the virus in this way. In individual cases, according to the RKI, organ transplantation or blood transfusion also resulted in the virus. According to the RKI, between two and 14 days can pass between the infection and the occurrence of the first symptoms.
Originally native to the tropics, the West Nil virus has now also spread through migratory birds in Europe and Mediterranean regions. According to the RKI, it has been broadcast seasonally during the summer months, especially in southern Europe – and can even be there there hibernate. According to the RKI people in Italy, Greece, France, Turkey and large parts of the Balkans, people are particularly affected by infection. But the virus is also increasing in north -lived regions, such as in Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. According to the RKI, illnesses have also been reported in Germany since 2019, in which people through mosquito bites infected with the virus.
How does the West Nil virus express itself?
As the RKI reports, infections with the West Nil virus are largely without recognizable symptoms. Only about 20 percent of the infected people develop a flu -like disease with a fever. This usually takes three to six days and usually heals without complications.
Symptoms of the West Nil virus include:
- Fever
- chills
- Headache
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Lymph node swelling
- Rash (in around 50 percent of the cases)
Deaths in Italy: How dangerous is the West Nil virus?
In rare cases, an infection with the West Nile virus can also lead to a serious course of the disease. According to the Robert Koch Institute, one of a hundred infected people falls ill with a so-called neuroin-vasive form of the disease. Some patients can lead to benign meningitis (meningitis). In individual cases, brain inflammation (encephalitis) can also develop, which is associated with different neurological damage and, in the worst case, can be fatal.
Most recently, the virus performed increasingly in Italy. Loud a report The Italian health authority ISS of July 31, 2025 were registered with a neuroin -vasive course in the week from 24 to 30 July 57, including 40. This increased the number of reported infections in Italy this year to 89. According to the report, at least eight people died as a result of the disease. According to the RKI, older people and people with previous illnesses are particularly at risk of a difficult course.
Lake Garda: What do vacationers need to know about the West Nil virus?
According to the report of the Italian health authority ISS, the West Nil virus has so far been proven in a total of ten regions of Italy-including Piemont, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Latium, Abruzzo, Campania, Apulia and Sardinia. Positive findings were among other things In the province of Brescia Registered, which is only around 30 kilometers east of Lake Garda. According to the report, deaths occurred in Piedmont, Latium and Campania.
It is difficult to predict to what extent the West Nil virus will spread in the coming weeks. The spread depends on the RKI of various factors: According to this, outbreaks would often be included favorable weather and climate conditions related for mosquitoes.
Like that Foreign office Informed, in Italy there can always be seasonal outbreaks of the West Nil virus during the summer months. However, vaccination or targeted treatment in the event of illness is currently not yet available. In order to avoid infection, the Federal Foreign Office therefore advises protective measures in particular during the day as part of so -called exposure prophylaxis. This means preventing mosquito bites, for example, by insect defense agents for the skin, long clothing or insect nets.
What are the key mosquito vectors involved in West Nile Virus transmission around Lake Garda?
west Nile Virus Surveillance on Lake Garda: Assessing Its Presence and Impact
Understanding West Nile Virus (WNV) & its Vectors
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic arbovirus, meaning its transmitted by mosquitoes and circulates between animals and humans. The primary vectors responsible for WNV transmission are mosquitoes of the Culex genus. Understanding the lifecycle of these mosquitoes – breeding in stagnant water, feeding on birds (the main reservoir), and then possibly biting humans – is crucial for effective surveillance. Key terms related to WNV include neuroinvasive disease, West Nile fever, and asymptomatic infection.
Lake Garda: A Unique Ecological Setting & Risk Factor
Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, presents a unique ecological setting that can influence WNV transmission dynamics. The lake’s extensive reed beds,agricultural lands surrounding the shoreline,and significant bird populations (including migratory birds) create ideal conditions for both mosquito breeding and virus amplification. The mild climate of the region also extends the mosquito season, potentially increasing the risk of human exposure. Factors increasing risk around Lake garda include:
High Bird Density: Migratory waterfowl and resident bird populations act as amplifying hosts.
Agricultural Irrigation: irrigation practices can create breeding sites for Culex mosquitoes.
Tourism: Increased human population density during peak tourist seasons elevates exposure risk.
Climate change: Warmer temperatures and altered rainfall patterns can expand mosquito ranges and breeding seasons.
Current Surveillance Programs & Methodologies
Effective WNV surveillance requires a multi-faceted approach. Current programs around Lake Garda, and increasingly across Italy, employ several key methodologies:
- Mosquito Surveillance:
Trapping: Using CDC light traps and CO2-baited traps to collect Culex mosquitoes.
Species Identification: morphological and molecular identification of collected mosquito species.
Virus Detection: Pooling and testing mosquito samples for WNV RNA using RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction).
- Avian Surveillance:
Dead Bird Reporting: Public reporting of dead birds, particularly corvids (crows, ravens, jays), which are highly susceptible to WNV.
Serological Testing: Testing blood samples from live wild birds for WNV antibodies to assess infection rates.
- Human Surveillance:
Syndromic Surveillance: Monitoring emergency room visits and hospital admissions for neurological symptoms consistent with WNV infection.
Confirmatory Testing: Testing blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples from suspected cases for WNV antibodies and RNA.
- Veterinary Surveillance: Monitoring horses for WNV symptoms, as they are also susceptible and can serve as sentinels.
Recent Findings & WNV Activity Around Lake Garda (2023-2024)
Recent surveillance data (2023-2024) indicates sporadic WNV activity around Lake Garda. While large-scale outbreaks haven’t been reported, positive mosquito pools have been identified in several municipalities bordering the lake. Specifically:
2023: WNV RNA was detected in Culex pipiens mosquitoes collected in the southern part of Lake Garda (Peschiera del garda area). One confirmed human case of West Nile fever was reported in Verona province, adjacent to the lake.
2024 (as of August 2024): Increased mosquito trapping efforts have revealed a higher proportion of Culex* mosquitoes, with preliminary testing showing a low percentage of positive pools. Enhanced public awareness campaigns have been launched. no human cases have been confirmed to date in 2024, but surveillance is ongoing.
These findings highlight the continued presence of WNV in the region and the need for sustained surveillance efforts.
Impact on Public Health & Veterinary Medicine
WNV poses a significant public health concern,although the majority of infections are asymptomatic (approximately 80%). Though, approximately 20% of infected individuals develop West Nile fever, characterized by fever, headache, body aches, and rash. A small percentage (less than 1%) develop severe neuroinvasive disease, including meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid paralysis, which can be fatal or result in long-term neurological complications.
In veterinary medicine, WNV primarily affects horses, causing neurological disease with symptoms such as ataxia, weakness, and paralysis.
