West Nile Spike Puts Emilia-Romagna's Mosquito Defences to the Test

Italy's West Nile virus infections have spiked again at the end of August, according to The Local Italy, which reported that the number of cases has jumped as summer heat persists. The outbreak has put regions on alert, with surveillance stepped up in areas where the virus is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes. The report did not specify which regions were most affected but noted the national trend.

For Emilia-Romagna, the news lands in a region that has long been a laboratory for mosquito control. The Po Valley's humid climate and network of rivers and irrigation canals make it prime breeding ground for the Culex mosquito, and the region has operated an integrated monitoring and larvicide programme for decades. Foreign public-health observers have studied Emilia-Romagna's approach as a model for temperate regions facing the northward spread of vector-borne diseases.