Attention remains high after recent cases of Dengue reported in the Tuscan territory. The Region, according to a note, is monitoring its evolution together with the local health authorities, with whom it is in constant contact. At the moment ten confirmed cases have been identified, in subjects who frequented in August a confined area between Piombino and Baratti, in the province of Livorno.
The situation
For this reason, as has already happened in similar situations in other regions in recent years, epidemiological surveillance has also been strengthened in Tuscany and the measures provided for the control of mosquito-borne diseases have been activated, starting with disinfestation interventions and the removal of larval breeding sites in the affected areas.
The expert
Specialists from the health system also issue a call for calm and to avoid any form of alarmism. “Dengue is not transmitted directly from person to person,” recalls infectious disease specialist Alessandro Bartoloni, professor of infectious diseases at the University of Florence and head of the Center for the Study and Treatment of Tropical Diseases, “Dengue is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It manifests as a flu-like syndrome whose clinical picture usually resolves within a week: complications are rare. It remains essential to continue with preventive measures, especially at a time of year when the presence of the tiger mosquito can still be high.”
Read more Simmenthal withdraws products from the market: they may be dangerous to health – Details
What you need to know
If the disease is transmitted only through infected mosquitoes (and in particular the tiger mosquito), the first precaution, reminds the Tuscany Region, is to adopt behaviors useful to limit their proliferation, in public and private spaces, to avoid “breeding” them unknowingly. Actions in private areas are fundamental and citizen cooperation is essential from this point of view. Stagnant water in saucers, watering cans, and buckets should be avoided.
It is useful to empty containers left outdoors every two or three days, such as animal bowls and inflatable pools. It is recommended to cover tanks and containers where rainwater is collected and to keep fountains and basins clean. It is advisable to protect yourself from possible infections caused by bites by wearing long and light-colored clothing, using insect repellents, or equipping doors and windows of the house with mosquito nets. To prevent arboviruses, including dengue, disinfestation remains essential during the peak mosquito circulation period, that is from early March to late November. Action on larvae is confirmed as the most effective and lasting intervention.
Read more Siena, convertible overturns off the road: a man dies. Wife seriously injured
