by InTrieste
Health authorities in Trieste have reported a new case of dengue fever, just a week after the first was detected in the city’s Salita di Raute area. The most recent case was identified in Via San Silvestro, in the heart of the city center.
The infected individual, who had recently returned from travel abroad, tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus. On Monday, public health officials conducted inspections around the patient’s residence, focusing on outdoor areas that could serve as mosquito breeding grounds.
Given the presence of green spaces and sensitive sites within a 200-meter radius, officials have ordered a round of targeted disinfestation. Crews are scheduled to carry out larvicide and adulticide treatments on Friday, September 26. The adulticide spraying will begin at 5 a.m., followed by door-to-door larvicide treatments starting at 8:30 p.m. in the affected zone.
Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that have previously bitten an infected person. It cannot be spread directly from human to human. The virus circulates in the bloodstream for two to seven days, during which time it can be passed on to other individuals via mosquito bites—even if they have never traveled to regions where dengue is endemic.
Most infections are asymptomatic, but when symptoms do occur they often include sudden high fever, severe headache, eye pain, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, skin rash, and, in some cases, minor bleeding. Roughly 80 percent of cases are either symptom-free or present as a self-limiting febrile illness.
Public health officials stress that prevention remains the most effective defense. Recommended measures include using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and trousers, sleeping under mosquito nets, and treating clothing with repellents. Communities are also urged to reduce mosquito breeding sites by eliminating standing water and supporting disinfestation campaigns.
A dengue vaccine has recently become available and is recommended for travelers heading to areas where the virus is common.
