Dengue, experts praise Marche model of curbing outbreak

In the Italian city of Ancona, specialists convened to discuss the intricate relationship between public health, veterinary medicine, and the control of arboviral diseases. The event, titled One Health and Arbovirosis: Prevention and Emergency Control of Dengue, saw the Marche region’s approach to containing the 2024 dengue epidemic receive notable commendation. During the summer months, Italy recorded 700 cases of the infection, with over 200 being autochthonous and occurring within the province of Pesaro and Urbino, particularly in the region between Fano and Pesaro. The multisectoral approach adopted by local institutions and the direct involvement of the population were identified as key strengths that enabled the effective management of the largest outbreak on the European continent in terms of the number of cases, according to Vincenzo Caputo, Professor at the University Federico II, School of Specialization in Infectious Diseases, Prophylaxis, and Veterinary Police. According to Rossana Berardi, Full Professor of Oncology at the Politecnico delle Marche University, the Dengue epidemic demonstrated the significant interconnections between environmental health and that of living beings that populate it, particularly in terms of its impact on vulnerable segments of the population, including cancer patients, who are often immunocompromised and subject to greater risks and complications than others.