Recent signals
- diseaseWHO2026-04-10Avian Influenza A(H9N2) - ItalyOn 21 March 2026, the National International Health Regulations (IHR) Focal Point for Italy notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of the identification of a human case of avian influenza A(H9) in an adult male returning from Senegal. Next generation sequencing confirmed Influenza A(H9N2). According to epidemiological investigations, the patient had no known history of exposure to poultry or any person with similar symptoms prior to the onset of symptoms. Authorities in Italy have implemented a series of measures aimed at monitoring, preventing and controlling the situation. According to the IHR (2005), a human infection caused by a novel influenza A virus subtype is an event that has the potential for high public health impact and must be notified to the WHO. This is the first imported human case of avian Influenza A(H9N2) reported in the European Region. Based on currently available information, WHO assesses the current risk to the general population posed by A(H9N2) viruses as low but continues to monitor these viruses and the situation globally.Source →-5.0
Foreign-ministry advisories
Practical guidance
What the disease sub-score covers
Italy’s disease sub-score is 86/100 (low band). It combines endemic baseline (the diseases that are always present at some level) with acute outbreak signals from WHO Disease Outbreak News, CDC traveller notices, and ECDC bulletins. A drop in the sub-score typically reflects a fresh outbreak rather than a worsening baseline; the events feed above lists what is driving today’s number. Endemic risk is what your vaccinations and basic hygiene protect against; outbreak risk is what determines whether the trip itself should be reconsidered.
Food, water, and mosquitoes
The three traveller-illness vectors that account for most self-reported sickness: contaminated water (tap, ice cubes, salad washed in tap), undercooked food (especially shellfish and street meat), and mosquito-borne disease (dengue, chikungunya, malaria, Zika). The defensive rules are well established: bottled or filtered water only in higher-risk destinations, cooked food served hot, peel fruit yourself, and use DEET- or picaridin-based repellent in dengue-active areas at dawn and dusk. The Italy vaccinations page lists which immunisations specifically reduce risk for this country.
If an outbreak is in the news
A new WHO Disease Outbreak News article triggers a drop in the sub-score within 24 hours of publication; the events feed shows the source. Read the WHO article rather than secondary coverage: outbreak severity often gets amplified in travel press relative to the agency’s actual assessment. The Field Manual guide When an outbreak hits a destination you’ve booked walks through the decision tree: when to cancel, when to push, when to alter the itinerary.
Related for Italy
Long-form context
Italy is one of the safest countries in Europe for tourists, but the texture of the risk is specific. The single biggest threat is opportunistic theft in the three or four cities everyone visits. The next biggest is misjudging the road network. This guide unpacks both, plus the agencies and embassy contacts you should know about before you go.
Frequently asked about Italy
Are there any active disease outbreaks in Italy?
Italy's disease sub-score is 86/100. Active outbreaks are listed in the recent-signals feed above, sourced from WHO Disease Outbreak News, CDC traveller notices, and ECDC bulletins. A drop in the sub-score typically reflects a fresh outbreak rather than a worsening baseline.
What diseases are common in Italy?
Endemic disease patterns vary by region within Italy. The three traveller-illness vectors that account for most reported sickness anywhere: contaminated water, undercooked food, and mosquito-borne disease (dengue, chikungunya, malaria, Zika depending on region). The vaccinations page lists which immunisations specifically reduce risk for this country.
Is the water safe to drink in Italy?
Tap water safety varies by region and infrastructure. In most non-OECD destinations, default to bottled or filtered water for drinking, ice, and brushing teeth; salads washed in tap water carry the same risk. The country safety guide's healthcare chapter covers the specific destination assessment.