Clusters of autochthonous chikungunya cases in Italy
Two related clusters involving autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus have been detected in the cities of Anzio and Rome, two areas located 60 km apart in the Lazio region of Italy. Transmission of this type, in areas where Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are established and at a time when environmental conditions are suitable for increased mosquito abundance and activity, is not unexpected.
This event is the second introduction of chikungunya local transmission in Italy resulting in an outbreak, following a previousoutbreak in the Emilia-Romagna region in 2007. Other autochthonous transmission events were detected in France in 2010, 2014 and 2017.