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Chikungunya in Italy (Rome and Surrounding Area)

08 Sep 2017

Italian public health authorities have reported 3 cases of chikungunya in Anzio, a popular seaside town 50km south of Rome. All of the cases became unwell in August. None of them travelled recently and all are believed to have been infected locally.

Advice for Travellers

No vaccine is available against chikungunya. Avoidance of mosquito bites is the only reliable means of prevention. Methods of bite avoidance include:

  • Wearing long, loose, lightly coloured clothing to cover up the skin.
  • The use of insect repellant containing DEET  applied to any exposed skin.
  • The use of permethrin, impregnated mosquito nets.
  • The use of air conditioning if available and/or mesh screening of windows and doors.
  • Eradication of mosquito breeding sites around the home (e.g. open containers, old tyres or flower pots that may collect water).

For further information see Chikungunya Fever.