Two more individuals have died from the West Nile Virus in the Lazio region, bringing the total number of fatalities there to twelve. The victims are an 84-year-old man from Latina, who passed away on August 10 at the Santa Maria Goretti hospital while being treated for lymphocytic leukemia, and an 87-year-old woman from Cassino with multiple pre-existing conditions, who died on Wednesday after being admitted to the emergency room on August 17. Post-mortem testing confirmed both had the virus.
According to analyses performed by the Spallanzani Institute’s virology laboratory, eight new human cases of the virus have been certified since the last update on August 18. These include two cases with neurological symptoms, five cases of West Nile fever, and one asymptomatic blood donor identified through screening by the Regional Blood Center—a finding that underscores the safety of the regional transfusion system. The new cases were detected in the municipalities of Cassino (Frosinone), Latina, Gaeta (Latina), and Norma (Latina).
The situation has drawn criticism from local officials. Five Star Movement (M5S) deputy Andrea Quartini, the party’s coordinator for the Health and Social Inclusion committee, stated, “The situation relating to the West Nile virus in Italy is serious; one wonders if the government has noticed.” He criticized the Meloni government for its inaction, asking, “Where is the plan for a unified national action? What support interventions does it intend to implement to help Regions and Local Authorities? Citizens are waiting for answers.”
Alessio D’Amato, the national welfare manager for the Azione party and a Lazio regional councillor, commented, “Unfortunately, any prevention plan for phenomena that will be increasingly present has completely failed. In Lazio in particular, the response was late and inadequate, and the data on the number of deaths demonstrates this.”
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