Since January 2024, five cases of measles have been confirmed in the area that includes the Metropolitan City of Milan and surrounding areas in Lombardy. The cases are all classified as genotype D8 and "sporadic" as no clear epidemiological link has been found between them.
In three of the five identified cases, it is explained, a recent travel history was reported, the destinations included Uzbekistan, Thailand and southern Italy. "Our results suggest that MeVs with the specific mutations detected through Swiss molecular surveillance are already circulating in Italy," the researchers observe.