Health threat
Deadly in Italy, the Western Nile virus puts Switzerland on alert
With seven deaths in Italy and households close to Ticino, the health authorities recommend caution. The conditions of transmission are met in the country.
Vector mosquitoes and wild birds, guests of the virus, are already present in Switzerland.
Keystone
Increasing the fever cases of western Nile in Italywith seven deaths identified, arouses the concern of the Swiss health authorities, particularly in Ticino. The geographic proximity and the presence of transmission vectors in Switzerland make the country potentially vulnerable to this disease transmitted by mosquitoes, according to The Federal Office for Public Health (OFSP)
The Latium region constitutes the epicenter of the Italian epidemic with three deaths and 44 confirmed cases, but other households affect Lombardy, the Pô and the Piedmont, notes the RTS. This geographic spread particularly concerns the Ticino authorities, border of these affected regions.
France also experienced its first Aboriginal case of 2025 in the Var, alert Public Health France in its ballot of July 30. The previous year, 38 contaminations had been identified in France, mainly in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur with 24 cases in the Var, but also in Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Station to mosquito bites
The OFSP stresses that Switzerland meets the conditions favorable to the transmission of the virus. Vector mosquitoes and wild birds, main guests of the virus, are present on Swiss territory. This zoonosis (likely to infect man) can contaminate various mammals including horses, dogs and cats, then be transmitted to humans by mosquito bite or infected tick bite.
The virus generally remains benign with 80% asymptomatic cases in humans. About 20% of infected people develop symptoms similar to those of the flu (fever, chills, aches) who disappear spontaneously in five to seven days.
However, less than 1% of cases evolve towards serious neurological complications such as encephalitis or potentially fatal meningitis. The OFSP recommends that travelers go to areas at risk of effectively protecting itself from mosquito bites.
Western Nile fever being classified as epizootic to monitor, veterinarians and laboratories must report any suspicious case to the cantonal veterinarian. As interhuman transmission is not possible, preventive measures are focused on personal protection and veterinary surveillance.
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