PLoS ONE (Jan 2018)

Local transmission of chikungunya in Rome and the Lazio region, Italy.

  • Francesco Vairo,
  • Alessia Mammone,
  • Simone Lanini,
  • Emanuele Nicastri,
  • Concetta Castilletti,
  • Fabrizio Carletti,
  • Vincenzo Puro,
  • Domenico Di Lallo,
  • Vincenzo Panella,
  • Donatella Varrenti,
  • Paola Scaramozzino,
  • Antonino di Caro,
  • Paola Scognamiglio,
  • Maria Rosaria Capobianchi,
  • Giuseppe Ippolito,
  • Chikungunya Lazio Outbreak Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208896
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 12
p. e0208896

Abstract

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On September 7, 2017, three potentially autochthonous cases of chikungunya were notified in the Lazio region. An Outbreak investigation based on established surveillance system data and molecular analysis of viral variant(s) were conducted. Epidemiological analysis suggested the occurrence of 3 main foci of local transmission. The major focus involved 317 cases with epidemiological link with the area of Anzio. The other two foci occurred in Rome (80 cases) and Latina (8 cases). Cumulative incidence in Anzio and Latina were 331.4 and 7.13 per 100,000 residents, respectively. Cumulative incidences ranged from 1.4 to 14.3/100,000 residents in Rome. This is the first report of a chikungunya outbreak involving a densely populated urban area in a western country. The outbreak probably started in Anzio, spread by continuity to neighbouring villages, and then to the metropolitan area of Rome and to the Latina area favoured by the touristic nature of the Anzio area.