Italy arbovirus update: Dengue, chikungunya and West Nile virus
Italy's national surveillance system has reported 265 cases of dengue, 25 of chikungunya, and 594 cases of West Nile virus as of September 2026. While most cases are travel-associated, the report highlights a significant number of autochthonous neuroinvasive West Nile virus infections and 41 associated deaths.
Why it matters
The data indicates a persistent public health challenge regarding arboviruses in Europe, necessitating ongoing monitoring and preventative measures.
From January 1 to September 8, 2026, the ISS national surveillance system recorded 265 confirmed cases of dengue: 24 of these were autochthonous, while all the other cases were associated with travel abroad (56% with exposure in the Maldives), with no deaths.
Twenty-five confirmed cases of chikungunya were also recorded: one of these cases was identified as autochthonous, while all the others were associated with travel abroad (42% with exposure in the Seychelles), with no deaths, and three cases of Zika virus, all associated with travel abroad, with no deaths
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