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. 2024 Sep;96(9):e29892.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.29892.

Differential diagnosis on measles and rubella discarded cases highlights a sharp increase in parvovirus B19 infections in Milan, Northern Italy, in the first months of 2024

Clara Fappani  1   2   3 , Maria Gori  1   2 , Silvia Bianchi  1   2 , Sabrina Senatore  4 , Daniela Colzani  1 , Marino Faccini  4 , Danilo Cereda  5 , Luigi Vezzosi  5 , Marta Canuti  6 , Antonella Amendola  1   2
Affiliations
Free article

Differential diagnosis on measles and rubella discarded cases highlights a sharp increase in parvovirus B19 infections in Milan, Northern Italy, in the first months of 2024

Clara Fappani et al. J Med Virol. 2024 Sep.
Free article

Abstract

In line with European trends, since 2023 Lombardy (Northern Italy) is experiencing a resurgence of measles and an increased number of reported cases of fever and rash. Measles discarded cases observed in our region within the context of measles and rubella surveillance from the first few months of 2024 (N = 30) were investigated for parvovirus B19 (B19V) and other rash-associated viruses. Thirteen cases tested positive for B19V DNA, representing a significant increase from previous years (on average 3 cases per year, p < 0.001) and ~40% of all B19V DNA-positive patients we detected since 2017. In 2024, B19V DNA-positive subjects spanned all ages, and the virus was predominant among adolescents and adults (84.6%). Two B19V infected patients were hospitalised, and likely cross-reacting anti-measles virus IgM were found in both. Our data align with the recent reports from the ECDC and various European countries, which are experiencing a surge in B19V infections, and underline the importance of comprehensive measles and rubella surveillance systems that can adapt to changing epidemiological trends.

Keywords: differential diagnosis; fever and rash; measles surveillance; parvovirus B19.

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References

REFERENCES

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    1. Fappani C, Gori M, Bianchi S, et al. Differential diagnosis of fever and rash cases negative for measles and rubella to complement surveillance activities. J Med Virol. 2023;95:e29141. doi:10.1002/jmv.29141

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