GENOA – Two more cases of dengue in Liguria, both diagnosed in the last few hours. Two Italian citizens were infected, having recently returned from trips abroad and undergoing treatment in the Policlinico San Martino and Galliera hospitals in Genoa.
At the Infectious Diseases day hospital at San Martino yesterday, a twenty-three-year-old was taken into care who, returned from a trip to the Maldives who presented symptoms compatible with the pathology. The diagnosis of dengue was confirmed this morning in the facility. His condition does not cause concern.
A 56-year-old man returning from Brazil was instead hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases department of the Galliera Hospital, where specific tests were carried out to ascertain the diagnosis of dengue. The man showed up at the emergency room on May 6th, complaining of widespread pain, fever and headache. The man, still hospitalized in the infectious disease department, is however in good health.
Dengue is a disease of viral origin and is transmitted to humans by the bites of mosquitoes that have already bitten an infected person. There is therefore no direct contagion between humans. Normally the disease gives rise to high fever within 5/6 days of the mosquito bite. Before leaving for a trip, in countries where mosquito-borne diseases are widespread, it is advisable to contact the travellers’ medicine clinics in the local health authorities.
“After returning from these trips – he explains Matteo Bassettidirector of Infectious Diseases of the San Martino Polyclinic in Genoa and Coordinator of the DIAR (Regional Intercompany Department) Infectious Diseases – in case of symptoms such as high fever, headache, pain, nausea and vomiting, the family doctor or a hospital should be promptly informed. As regards the case we ascertained at San Martino, the boy is in good health, with an excellent ability to react to the potential pathology and is close to being discharged. The recorded cases demonstrate that the prevention campaign works. There is therefore no need to be alarmist, leaving room for good and effective information.”
