West Nile virus: Naples' first neuroinvasive case: a 77-year-old man from Marano hospitalized.

After months of apparent respite, West Nile virus is once again raising the alarm in Campania. In recent days, the first case of the neuroinvasive form of the infection in 2026, the most serious and potentially dangerous form, affecting the central nervous system, was recorded in Naples.

The patient, a 77-year-old man living in Marano, arrived at the emergency room of the CTO Colli Aminei hospital with fever and neurological symptoms consistent with West Nile virus infection. The hospital, which has had a dedicated protocol for early diagnosis of the disease for years, immediately performed the required tests, including blood tests and a spinal tap to analyze the cerebrospinal fluid. The results confirmed the clinical suspicion.

After initial treatment, the patient was transferred to Cotugno Hospital, where further tests were performed to detect viral RNA. The man's clinical condition improved rapidly, and he is expected to be discharged in the next few hours.

Six symptomatic cases in Campania since the beginning of the summer

The case in Naples represents the sixth symptomatic case confirmed in Campania since the start of the 2026 summer season. Most infections have been recorded in the Caserta area, which continues to be one of the main regional hotbeds.

The confirmed cases concern patients residing in Casapesenna, Grazzanise, Castel Volturno, in the southern Naples area, and in the area between Casal di Principe and Formia. One additional suspected case, recorded in the Salerno area, was ruled out after confirmatory viral RNA testing.

Strengthened surveillance in the most exposed areas

Local health authority prevention departments have intensified epidemiological investigations to reconstruct patient movements and verify any stays in areas historically affected by the virus's circulation.

Attention is focused primarily on the Domitian coast, the Regi Lagni area down to lower Lazio, the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area, and the Sele Valley, areas characterized by the presence of wetlands and marshes favorable to the proliferation of the Culex pipiens mosquito, the main vector of the virus.

Disinfestation campaigns have already been carried out in many municipalities, while some administrations have also involved citizens, agricultural companies and operators in the sector to limit the presence of larvae.

The numbers for 2025 and the monitoring for 2026

The health authorities' vigilance is also justified by last year's data. In 2025, Campania recorded 151 cases of West Nile infection, 60 of which were in the province of Caserta. This was followed by 42 cases in the southern Naples area, 10 in the capital, 9 in the northern Naples area, 5 in the province of Salerno, and one in Irpinia. Thirteen deaths occurred, almost all of which were concentrated in the Caserta area.

Nationwide, that same year, there were 502 confirmed cases, with 34 deaths. Approximately half of the infections were neuroinvasive, while numerous cases were identified among blood donors through screening.

In 2026, according to data updated as of July 20, 23 cases have been confirmed in Italy, distributed across 17 areas of the country. In the Caserta area, the surveillance system has been further strengthened with the installation of mosquito traps and the monitoring of wildlife, particularly birds and horses, considered important indicators of virus circulation.

How to protect yourself from mosquito bites

Cotugno specialists remind us that prevention remains the most effective weapon against West Nile. It's recommended to use skin repellents, wear long clothing, especially in the evening, install mosquito screens on windows, and eliminate standing water that encourages mosquito breeding.

The virus is transmitted exclusively through the bite of the common Culex pipiens mosquito and cannot be transmitted from person to person.

"Neuroinvasive forms account for less than 1% of infections," explains Vincenzo Di Sarno, head of the Cotugno Emergency Department, "but they can cause encephalitis, paralysis, and other serious complications. The most vulnerable groups remain the elderly and frail."

The good news is that about 80% of infected people do not develop any symptoms, while in most cases the infection manifests itself with a flu-like fever that usually resolves spontaneously.