Lazio region leads Italy’s west Nile virus outbreak

Rome: While West Nile virus (WNV) has been determined to be endemic throughout most of Italy, the current outbreak has been centered in the Lazio Region, one of the 20 administrative regions. Situated in the central peninsular area, Lazio has over 5.7 million inhabitants.

According to the health ministry Bollettino N. 5, Lazio has reported 140 WNV cases as of August 14, 2025.

Overall, a total of 275 cases of WNV infection, including 19 related fatalities, have now been confirmed in Italy since the beginning of 2025.

Local media reported in early August 2025, the health ministry has said the situation is under control and there is no need for alarm, as while areas of Italy previously unaffected have been hit, the contagion and fatality figures are in line with those of recent years.

In 2022, human cases were reported in 25 provinces (128 municipalities) of the regions Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Piemonte, Sardegna, Toscana, and Veneto.

Since the beginning of 2025, five other European countries have reported human cases: Bulgaria, France, Greece, Hungary, and Romania.

Currently, there are no vaccines approved to prevent WNV cases.