UK holidaymakers have been issued a stark warning as two serious diseases, Dengue and Chikungunya, have been detected in Italy, a popular tourist destination. The Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro website has revealed the alarming presence of these illnesses.
Previously, cases of these diseases in Italy were found in individuals who had contracted them abroad. However, Italian health authorities have now diagnosed two new cases in people who caught the viruses within the country, sparking fears of local transmission.
As of 15 July 2025, the Italian health authorities reported the first locally acquired case of Dengue for the year. This case was identified in the Emilia Romagna region.
Additionally, 82 imported cases of the disease have been recorded across various regions.
On the same date, health officials also reported the first locally acquired case of Chikungunya for the year. This case was again identified in the Emilia Romagna region.
A further 50 imported cases of the disease have been recorded across several regions.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a viral infection caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an alphavirus spread through mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that transmit Chikungunya bite during the day, particularly at dawn and dusk.
They breed in natural and man-made containers such as flowerpots and old tyres, which pose a risk factor for transmission if left around human habitation.
Chikungunya, while unpleasant, is seldom fatal. Symptoms typically appear 4-8 days after a bite from an infected mosquito and include:
- sudden high fever
- severe joint pains (arthralgia) and muscle pains (myalgia)
- headaches
- sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- skin rashes
In rare cases, individuals can contract CHIKV without showing symptoms. Symptoms generally improve within 1–2 weeks, but severe joint pains may persist for months or even years.
There have been sporadic reports of eye, neurological and heart complications, as well as gastrointestinal complaints.
There is no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya. The recommended treatment includes rest, hydration and pain and fever medications such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.
Dengue
Dengue is an infection caused by the dengue virus, which has four different types (serogroups) DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4. The disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.
These mosquitoes typically breed in urban areas near human dwellings and are most active during daylight hours. While dengue is usually self-limiting, a small yet significant number of people can develop a more life-threatening infection (severe dengue).
A travel health expert has warned: “Approximately 40 to 80 per cent of people infected with dengue remain symptom-free. If symptoms do occur, the illness usually begins abruptly with a high fever, and is often accompanied by a severe headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and a rash. Most infections are self-limiting, with a rapid recovery three to four days after the rash appears.
“A small number of people develop more severe illness with symptoms which can include dangerously low blood pressure (shock), fluid build-up in the lungs and severe bleeding. There is no specific drug treatment for severe dengue illness, although hospital admission and careful management of fever, fluid balance and pain can help with recovery. If left untreated, severe dengue illness can be fatal. With good medical care, death due to severe dengue is typically less than one per cent.”