The discovery of mosquitoes of the Anopheles sacharovi species in Salento was a rather interesting discovery, since these mosquitoes are among the main vectors of malaria in the Mediterranean basin.
In Puglia, specifically in the province of Lecce, a scientific study was conducted to monitor the presence of mosquitoes capable of transmitting malaria. This research was carried out by the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Puglia and Basilicata, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and the ASL of Lecce, with the results published on 10 April in the journal Parasites & Vectors. During the study, 216 mosquitoes and mosquito larvae were captured, of which 20 belonged to the Anopheles sacharovi species, one of the species known to vector the malaria parasite. The presence of this mosquito species indicates a potential threat for malaria transmission, although no locally transmitted indigenous malaria cases have currently been reported in that region.
In Italy, malaria is not an endemic disease, which means that there are no regular local transmissions of the disease. However, imported cases of malaria are occasionally recorded, caused by people who contract the disease by traveling to countries where it is endemic and then returning to Italy. There are also very rare cases of so-called "native" malaria, i.e. transmissions that occur locally without the infected person having traveled to endemic areas. These cases are extremely rare and often associated with accidental transmission, such as through the bite of a mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person returning from an endemic area.
Currently, there are no reports of local malaria transmission in Puglia. Malaria cases in Italy are generally imported, that is, people who contracted the disease by traveling to regions where malaria is endemic and who then returned to Italy.
In Puglia, as in other parts of Italy, health authorities and research institutes carry out careful monitoring of mosquitoes, especially those capable of transmitting malaria, such as Anopheles sacharovi, whose presence was recently confirmed in the province of Lecce. This type of surveillance is vital to prevent any potential outbreak and to intervene quickly if local transmission of the disease occurs.
History of malaria in Italy (in brief)
The history of malaria in Italy is long and complex, significantly marked by the fight against this disease until its official eradication in 1970. Here is an overview of the main stages:
Antiquity and the Middle Ages Malaria has been present in Italy since ancient times, first documented in detail by Roman authors such as Cicero and Pliny the Elder. During the Middle Ages, the disease continued to be a serious public health problem, particularly in marshy areas and southern regions.
Renaissance In the Renaissance, malaria continued to spread in humid and malarial areas, such as the Tuscan Maremma, the Pontine Lazio, and the Po Valley. Marshy areas were particularly affected and often abandoned due to the high risk of contracting the disease.
Nineteenth century In the 19th century, with the unification of Italy and the growth of industry and infrastructure, the need to reclaim malarial areas became more pressing. Famous doctors and scientists, such as Angelo Celli, began to intensively study the disease, promoting campaigns to improve living conditions and reduce the spread of malaria.
XNUMXth century In 1900, Giovanni Battista Grassi confirmed the role of mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus in the transmission of malaria, a crucial step for future eradication campaigns. During the fascist regime, major land reclamation works were undertaken to eliminate marshy areas, especially in Lazio and Sicily.
Post-war and Eradication After the Second World War, the World Health Organization launched a global program to eradicate malaria, and Italy actively participated in it. Thanks to the intensive use of insecticides such as DDT, and the continuous reclamation of infested areas, Italy was declared malaria-free in 1970.
