High burden of autochthonous arboviral infections during the summer season in Verona province, Italy, during 2025
Journal of Infection·
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jinf.2026.106730
- PMID
- 41845966
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W7136046574
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
A substantial proportion of unexplained acute fever cases in the study population were attributable to locally transmitted arboviruses. The screening protocol enabled early detection of a local chikungunya outbreak. The authors emphasize that these findings support strengthening public health surveillance in southern Europe to detect transmission foci and adapt screening protocols to changing arboviral epidemiology.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
This study aimed to estimate the frequency of local (autochthonous) arboviral transmission in Verona province, Italy, during the summer season (June-September 2025).
Study design
A multi-step screening protocol was applied to individuals presenting with acute fever, no recent travel history, and specific hematologic criteria (WBC <10,000 per µL unless tick bite history). Cases were confirmed through molecular assay and/or virus-specific IgM antibodies, with confirmation supported by rising antibody titres in follow-up samples (15-20 days) and positive seroneutralization testing.
Population and setting
The study was conducted in Verona province, Italy, during June-September 2025, and enrolled 102 individuals presenting with acute fever.
Main findings
Twenty-nine of 102 participants (28.4%, 95% CI 20.2-38.4%) were confirmed with autochthonous arboviral infections, comprising 3 West Nile fever cases, 4 tick-borne encephalitis cases, and 22 chikungunya cases. The chikungunya cases represented a local outbreak.
Public-health relevance
A substantial proportion of unexplained acute fever cases in the study population were attributable to locally transmitted arboviruses. The screening protocol enabled early detection of a local chikungunya outbreak. The authors emphasize that these findings support strengthening public health surveillance in southern Europe to detect transmission foci and adapt screening protocols to changing arboviral epidemiology.
Important limitations
This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata; the original full text is required for decision-grade interpretation of study limitations, potential biases, and generalizability.
GIDS interpretation
This study documents autochthonous arboviral transmission in a defined Italian province during summer 2025, including a local chikungunya outbreak detected through a structured fever surveillance protocol. No connection to a live surveillance signal is implied or intended.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 13 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.