Two serious illnesses 'being spread' in favourite UK holiday destination
British holidaymakers have been issued a health alert regarding two serious diseases found in a popular travel destination. The Foreign Office-supported Travel Health Pro website has disclosed that Dengue and Chikungunya have both been detected in Italy.
These illnesses have been identified previously, but all instances were contracted abroad. However, Italian health officials have now reported two new cases diagnosed in individuals who contracted the diseases within the country, raising fears of local transmission.
In relation to Dengue, as of 15 July 2025, the Italian health authorities announced the first locally acquired case of the year. This case was reported in the Emilia Romagna region.
Additionally, 82 imported cases of the disease have been documented across various regions.
Similarly, by 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 in several regions.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is a viral infection caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an alphavirus spread through mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that carry chikungunya are active from sunrise to sunset, 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 near human dwellings.
Chikungunya, while uncomfortable, is seldom life-threatening. Symptoms typically manifest 4-8 days post an infected mosquito bite and include:.
In rare instances, individuals may contract the CHIKV virus without exhibiting any symptoms. While symptoms generally subside within 1–2 weeks, severe joint pain can linger for months or even years.
Sporadic reports of complications involving the eyes, nervous system, heart, and digestive system have been noted.
There's no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya. The recommended course of action includes rest, hydration, and over-the-counter pain and fever relievers like ibuprofen or paracetamol.
Dengue
Dengue is an infectious disease caused by four distinct types (serogroups) of the dengue virus: 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. Although unpleasant, dengue is usually a self-limiting illness.
However, a small yet significant number of people can develop a more serious infection (severe dengue).
Travel health pro has issued a statement saying: "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."
They also warned: "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."
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