The number of victims of outbreaks of West Nile Virus in Lazio, Campania, Piedmont and Calabria rose to 19 after an 83-year-old man died at Caserta Monday, the eighth victim in the region around Naples, and two men aged 80 and 85 died in Latina, the eighth and ninth victims in the area around Rome.
    There have also been two other deaths linked to the virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, in the northern region around Turin, and the southern region around Reggio, bringing the overall toll to 19.
    All the victims were in hospitals' intensive care units and they all had pre-existing conditions.
    The health ministry has said the situation is under control and there is no need for alarm as, while areas of Italy previously unaffected have been hit, the contagion and fatality figures are in line with those of recent years.

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