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After an outbreak of Chikungunya infection in Emilia-Romagna Region (North-eastern Italy), a survey was performed to estimate the seroprevalence of antibody to Chikungunya virus and the proportion of asymptomatic infections, to identify factors associated with infection, and evaluate the performance of the surveillance system. The method used was a survey on a random sample of residents of the village with the largest number of reported cases. The prevalence was 10.2% (33 of 325), being higher in older people and males, and lower when window screens and insect repellents were used. Only 18% of infected persons were fully asymptomatic, 85% of the 27 symptomatic confirmed cases satisfied the surveillance case definition, and 63% of the persons meeting the criteria for suspect case were identified by the active surveillance system. This study provides basic parameters for modeling the transmission potential of outbreaks and planning control measures for Chikungunya infection in temperate settings.

This paper summarizes the Emilia-Romagna strategy to face the 2007 emergency, caused by a Chikungunya epidemic outbreak with local virus transmission by Ae. albopictus. The paper describes the trend of epidemic and the interventions adopted to face toward the event. The first cases were in Ravenna and Cervia and then the outbreak spread toward other areas: the Provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Rimini and Bologna. Last case was notified 2007 28th September; Health Ministry declared over the outbreak on 2007 20th November. Emilia-Romagna Region did not consider over the trouble and prepared a Plan for the fight against the asian tiger mosquito and the prevention of Chikungunya and Dengue fever for 2008, activating an health surveillance system and optimizing the entomological control of the territory.