Over 4,000 cases of alveolar echinococcosis in Europe

The first multicentre study to be coordinated by the Italian National Institute of Health and published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases has reported over 4,200 cases of human alveolar echinococcosis in Europe over the last 25 years. A total of 70% of cases were observed in Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland, with a further 21% of cases occurring in Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia. Italy is among the countries with the fewest reports, with three cases documented for the first time in 2023, one of which was acquired locally. Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is an infectious disease caused by the proliferation of Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworms in the internal organs of infected patients, with the process beginning in the liver. The infection is transmitted through hand-to-mouth contact or ingestion of contaminated food or water, and the disease can be fatal if not adequately treated. Two primary epicentres have been identified in Europe, particularly in the area encompassing the countries bordering the Alps and the Baltic States.