A 77-year-old man has died in Italy from West Nile virus, bringing the death toll to 9 this year, mostly in the Rome region.

In Italy, a 77-year-old man has died from West Nile virus in Italy, bringing the total death toll to 9 this year, with most of the cases reported from the Rome region. The man had been hospitalized in Latina since July. About 80% of infections with the virus are asymptomatic, suggesting that the actual number of cases could be much higher. The virus, native to Africa, is transmitted by mosquito bites and was probably brought to Europe by migratory birds.