Leptospirosis following a flood in the Veneto area, North-east Italy.

In August 2002, an exceptional flood devastated a suburban area in the surroundings of Vicenza, North-east Italy. A fatal case of haemorrhagic pneumonia, which was presumptively diagnosed as leptospirosis, was observed as a consequence of the inundation. A local seroepidemiological survey was activated thereafter, with the principal aim of evaluating the risk of infection with Leptospirae in the population exposed to the flood. A 6.8% seroconversion rate was found in the population studied; however, the case previously observed remained unique, since an overt outbreak of leptospirosis did not occur.

Investigation of a Q-fever outbreak in northern Italy.

OBJECTIVES: A study was conducted to evaluate the extent of a Q-fever epidemic through active case finding in the area of Vicenza (north-eastern Italy), and to identify risk factors for Q-fever in this outbreak. METHODS: 1) Descriptive epidemiology; 2) Seroepidemiological survey; 3) Case-control study. 1) Epidemic curve and maps with the location of cases. Identification of the road followed by the flocks of sheep. 2) Cross-sectional study on humans and flocks of sheep tested for anti-Coxiella burnetii antibodies. 3) Cases were defined by the presence of fever > 38 degrees C plus serological confirmation. Controls were 94 apparently healthy individuals attending outpatient facilities for control visits or certification, group-matched by geographical area, age and gender. A standardized questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to evaluate risk factors for Q-fever. RESULTS: A total 58 cases were identified in a 5-month period. Male to female ratio was 2.8:1; mean age was 42 years (range: 20-65 years). Twenty-eight patients (48%) were hospitalized. Fever was accompanied by asthenia (81%), headache (76%), chills (72%), and myalgia and arthralgia (53%); cough was present in 47% of patients. Rx abnormalities were found in 81% of the patients undergoing chest X-ray. Among 111 apparently healthy family members who underwent serological testing, four (3.6%) had antibodies to Coxiella burnetii. Three flocks which passed through the outbreak area between late May and early June were shown to be infected, with prevalence of antibodies ranging between 45 and 53%. The case-control study showed a significant association with exposure to flocks of sheep (Odds ratio = 6.1; 95% CI 2.5, 16.3). Other potential risk factors were not more commonly reported by cases with respect to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect exposure to flocks of sheep was a determinant of this outbreak of Q-fever. This finding suggests that transmission occurred through inhalation of contaminated airborne particles. The importance of control measures should be stressed in areas traversed by flocks of sheep.

[Anti-rubella vaccine coverage in women 11-28 years of age: data on 5 local socio-health units of Veneto]. / Copertura vaccinale anti-rosolia nelle donne di 11-28 anni: dati relativi a 5 unità locali socio-sanitarie del Veneto.

Selective rubella vaccination in the 11 years old girls, has been carried out in the Regione Veneto (Venetian Land) since 1974. The rubella immunization rate in teh women born between 1962 and 1978, in five sanitary districts, is 68.25%; the trend of increasing vaccination is continuing. Important differences in the organization of vaccination campaign were found among the five districts.