West Nile virus testing mandatory for all blood donors in Lazio.

The Lazio Region has extended the West Nile Virus (WNV) Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) to all blood donors in the Lazio Region. These new precautionary measures to protect public health and transfusion safety have been adopted by the Region, given the evolving epidemiological situation regarding the spread of WNV, particularly in the province of Latina.

The Regional Directorate for Health and Social Health Integration has ordered the extension of the test "in line with the provisions of the Ministry of Health Circular No. 3363 of February 5, 2025, which updates the Regional Plan for Prevention, Surveillance, and Response to Arboviruses for the current year, and taking into account the indications contained in the National Blood Center (CNS) memo, ref. No. 2025_0020412 of May 14, 2025." With this initiative, the Lazio Region, through its transfusion system, "reaffirms its utmost commitment to ensuring high standards of safety and quality, in full compliance with national and international recommendations. The extension of the test will be active throughout the region until further notice and will be constantly monitored based on epidemiological trends."