ABSTRACT
A measles outbreak occurred from November 2015 to April 2016 in two northern Italian regions, affecting the Roma/Sinti ethnic population and nosocomial setting. Overall, 67 cases were reported. Median age of 43 cases in three Roma/Sinti camps was four years, nosocomial cases were mainly adults. The outbreak was caused by a new measles virus B3.1 variant. Immunisation resources and strategies should be directed at groups with gaps in vaccine coverage, e.g. Roma/Sinti and healthcare workers.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/statistics & numerical data , Measles virus/isolation & purification , Measles/ethnology , Measles/transmission , Adult , Genotype , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Measles/virology , Measles Vaccine/administration & dosage , Measles virus/classification , Measles virus/genetics , Middle Aged , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , Population Surveillance , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: to characterise the cases of tuberculosis (TB) aged 0-24 years reported in Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy) Region between 2001 and 2010 through an ecological approach and from a sociodemographic perspective. DESIGN: observational study on notified TB cases, with data integration and subsequent location through geocoding and ecological deprivation index. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: notification records of TB cases identified by the current surveillance system. Cases were geocoded where address details were available and, through spatial intersection with census block polygons, the related deprivation index (DI) was attributed to them. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: deprivation index distribution of the observed cases. RESULTS: in the considered decade, 686 cases of tuberculosis in the age group 0-24 years were reported, 14.5% of the overall number of cases in the Emilia-Romagna Region. The DI was attributed to the 90.4% of cases. Notified TB cases were more frequently located in the most deprived areas. CONCLUSIONS: as other TB international surveillance systems, this study shows that it is possible to locate TB cases, to link them with census data and, therefore, to characterise with socioeconomic information. Looking ahead, the extension of the analysis to all age classes, the updating of socioeconomic data and the use of qualitative methodologies can integrate surveillance system data to better describe the social disadvantage among TB cases.
Subject(s)
Tuberculosis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Population Surveillance , Socioeconomic Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
The incidence of reported meningococcal disease in Italy is among the lowest in Europe. The trend of the disease was increasing up to 2005 and then declined after the gradual introduction of a universal Men C vaccination program in 17/21 Italian regions. Since 2006, in Emilia-Romagna region vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C was actively offered free of charge in a single dose to the age groups 12-15 months and 14-15 years, in addition to people with defined epidemiological risk. Our aim was to measure the impact of vaccination on the incidence of meningococcal disease caused by different serogroups among the population of Emilia Romagna Region, Northern Italy (approximately 4.5 million inhabitants) subdivided by age. Using surveillance data, we computed the incidence rates of Neisseria meninigitidis related invasive disease per 100.000 inhabitants for the years 2000 to 2012. In addition, the percentage change in incidence and the mortality rates were calculated. Results indicate a 70.1% decrease in the incidence of meningococcus C-related invasive disease after the introduction of MenC universal vaccination. No case of serogroup C related infection was observed since 2006 in children aged 1-4 years. These findings suggest that the single-dose vaccination strategy against serogroup C N.meningitidis targeted to the age groups 12-15 months and 14-15 years was effective in the Emilia-Romagna population. However, the occurrence of two cases of meningiditis in a 5-month child and in a 9-years child suggests caution and careful consideration in surveillance for the next years.
Subject(s)
Meningococcal Infections/epidemiology , Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control , Meningococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage , Meningococcal Vaccines/immunology , Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C/isolation & purification , Vaccination/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Meningococcal Infections/microbiology , Middle Aged , Survival Analysis , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
Botulism is a rare neuroparalytic disease caused by a potent neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. There are different clinical types of botulism. Early diagnosis of the condition is essential for effective treatment. We report a case of food-borne botulism in identical twins characterized by severe initial oral involvement and a review of the literature about the condition.
Subject(s)
Botulism/pathology , Food, Preserved/poisoning , Mouth Diseases/pathology , Xerostomia/etiology , Adult , Botulism/etiology , Deglutition Disorders/etiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Diseases in Twins/etiology , Eye Infections/pathology , Humans , Male , Mouth Diseases/etiology , Mouth Mucosa/pathology , Vegetables/poisoning , Xerostomia/pathologyABSTRACT
This paper summarizes the Emilia-Romagna strategy to face the 2007 emergency, caused by a Chikungunya epidemic outbreak with local virus transmission by Ae. albopictus. The paper describes the trend of epidemic and the interventions adopted to face toward the event. The first cases were in Ravenna and Cervia and then the outbreak spread toward other areas: the Provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Rimini and Bologna. Last case was notified 2007 28th September; Health Ministry declared over the outbreak on 2007 20th November. Emilia-Romagna Region did not consider over the trouble and prepared a Plan for the fight against the asian tiger mosquito and the prevention of Chikungunya and Dengue fever for 2008, activating an health surveillance system and optimizing the entomological control of the territory.
Subject(s)
Alphavirus Infections/epidemiology , Chikungunya virus , Disease Outbreaks , Alphavirus Infections/prevention & control , Humans , ItalyABSTRACT
Delay in pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis prolongs the period of time in which a patient is infectious, promoting tuberculosis transmission. We quantified diagnostic delay and examined delay associated factors in a regional wide case-control study set in Emilia-Romagna. A total 55 days median delay, with no significant difference between native and foreign-born patients, was observed in this study. Longer delay was observed when a general practitioner was consulted as first provider and when clinical picture was not fully manifest. This study points out the need of improving physicians' awareness of tuberculosis disease especially when they care for elderly people and foreign-born patients.
