Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi has
signed an order for disinfestations in the capital due to an
outbreak of the chikungunya virus, which is spread by mosquito
bites, the city said on Wednesday.
A statement said the order was for measures to "combat the
health emergency due to suspected and verified cases of
chikungunya, transmitted by the tiger mosquito, not just on
public ground, but also on private ground".
Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin said earlier on Wednesday
that it may be necessary to suspend blood donations in Rome due
to the chikungunya outbreak and berated the city for its
allegedly slow response.
Raggi's administration had said the Lazio regional government
was late in giving it information about the outbreak - a charge
the region rejects.
"We are very worried about the chikungunya situation. The
city of Rome must proceed with the disinfestations at once,"
Lorenzin said.
"Too much time has passed since the first intervention
request by the health authority, which dates back to September
7.
"It is highly likely that it will be decided to stop blood
donations in Rome.
"Today the region delivered a new order to the city for
immediate disinfestation".
The outbreak started at Anzio, a seaside port to the south of
Rome, and spread to the capital.
Anzio has already suspended blood donations.
Chikungunya, which first broke out in Italy in 2007, is a
viral infection that causes acute fever and joint pain.
It rarely results in death but effects can sometimes be
disabling.
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