Work

The Cripticism of data: West Nile in Italy and the 2026 information blackout

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) has been endemic in Italy for nearly three decades, with the country consistently reporting the highest number of human neuroinvasive disease cases in Europe.1 Yet in 2026, while the virus continues its geographic expansion with Italy accounting for the majority of locally acquired cases and West Nile neuroinvasive disease in Europe,2 citizens and healthcare professionals find themselves navigating an information void. Data on human infections, geographic distribution, and epidemiological trends must be pieced together from aggregated reports published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Source: The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2026.101827

Authors: Francesco Branda, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Fabio Scarpa, Massimo Ciccozzi

Institutions: Università Campus Bio-Medico, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Sassari

Language: English

Topic: Mosquito-borne diseases and control

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,930