After West Nile, another virus It overlooks Italy: it is the Chikungunya virus. The alarm comes from the World Health Organization, which talked about “global risks” last Tuesday.
They would be at least 5.6 billion people who live in areas potentially at risk. The story seems to repeat itself, after theepidemic of 2004-2005. In fact, this would be a new wave of the virus that already put over half a million people around the world on its knees.
The new wave of Chikungunya
The Chikungunya virus is already known. It is not something new, but one new wave of a virus capable of putting billions of people at risk. The wave began in 2025 in La Réunion, where a third of the inhabitants was infected.
There are also cases in Madagascar, Somalia, Kenya and South-East Asia. Cases also in India and Europe, including France And Italy. From 1 May there are about 800 cases imported into France, but 12 outbreaks are of internal transmission, that is, parties from people who have never set foot in the tropical areas at risk.
Cases in France
In Europe, the greatest number of cases are recorded in France, where From 1 May to 22 July 2025 At least 800 imported cases have been identified. 12 cases are instead autochthonous, including 6 in the Department of Sigault (5 in the municipality of Castries) and 1 in the Gard department.
For those traveling in France this summer it is good to know that there are some areas where the registered cases are concentrated:
- Provence-alps-blue blue;
- Corsica;
- Occitania;
- Alvernia-Rodano-Alps.
It is possible that other cases have not been registered and it is good to pay attention throughout the territory.
The zero patient in Italy
Also in Italy There have been some cases of Chikungunya virus. Thus the alarm is triggered. One case was identified in Municipality of Bentivogliowhile another suspicion in the same area concerns a person recently returned from travel.
The procedures of disinfestation preventive and extraordinary for tiger mosquitoes also in Meat sauce After an alleged case of chikungunya virus fever. This person was resident in the municipality of Rovigo And an emergency order has been prepared for the area.
The Guidelines of the WHO
To deal with the new viruses in circulation in Europe, the WHO has prepared guidelines. In fact, we must consider how climate change increases the circulation of mosquitoes in the European regions, bringing with it a series of pathogens. It is not only a factor of tropical-subtropical climate that advances, but also demographic growth, increase in travel and urbanization.
From guidelines It is therefore learned to pay attention to the stings of mosquitoes and the symptoms that follow. More at risk and to monitor elderly patients, but also babies. It is not easy to identify the symptoms, because they refer to fever, joint pain, headache, nausea and general fatigue, all conditions common to other viruses or difficult to identify in small or fragile subjects.
