Naples – With eight confirmed cases of West Nile virus infection in Campania, four of which are serious, veterinarians remain key players in the fight against vector-borne diseases.
Benedetto Neola, President of the Order of Veterinarians of the Province of Naples, emphasized this in relation to the current health emergency, with a significant cluster recorded in Baia Domizia (Caserta), where some patients have been admitted to intensive care at the Moscati hospital in Aversa and the Cotugno hospital in Naples.
"Veterinary surveillance is crucial for early identification of virus circulation ," explains Neola. By monitoring sentinel animals such as wild birds (natural reservoirs of the virus) and horses, National Health Service veterinarians enable timely alert measures, protecting human health.
"Our work," he adds, "is a cornerstone of the integrated prevention system." The Ministry of Health has activated the public service number 1500 to inform citizens and has issued urgent circulars as part of the National Arbovirus Plan, strengthening control measures.
The essential precautions to use
Neola urges the population to take essential precautions: "Using repellents, wearing protective clothing, installing mosquito nets, and reducing mosquito larvae are the only effective ways to limit the spread of the virus."
The Order of Veterinarians of Naples, which has been involved in training initiatives in collaboration with relevant organizations for years, promotes the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health.
“This strategy is essential to address infectious disease emergencies and protect the community,” concludes Neola, underlining the need for a network of expertise to ensure an effective response to the crisis.
It's important for everyone to be aware of these West Nile virus cases, even though there haven't been many serious cases. Veterinarians do a good job, but we should be more careful about taking daily precautions.