Beatrice TASSIS

and 7 more

Objective: A significant increase in Parvovirus B 19 (B19V) infections has been reported in the last months in some European countries. This outbreak could be highly detrimental for pregnant women, considering the capacity of the virus to harm the fetus. However, the magnitude and spread of this outbreak is yet unclear. There is the need for more evidence from other areas and focusing on pregnancy. Methods: Pregnant women with B19V infection who were managed in a referral hospital located in Milan, Northern Italy were reviewed. The primary aim was recording the frequency of ascertained cases of B19V infection in the period January-July 2024 and comparing these data to the frequencies recorded in the previous 9 years (2015-2023). The secondary aim of the study was comparing the severity of the infections in these two periods. Results: The number of B19V infections markedly increased in the first 7 months of 2024. Until 2023, the number of cases per year were below 7, with no cases reported in 2020-2022, while in the period January-July 2024, the number raised to 59 (p<0.001). Maternal characteristics and fetal outcomes before and after January 2024 did not differ. Conclusions: Italy is also involved in the ongoing outbreak of B19V infection and pregnant women are exposed to this threat. Public health authorities must promptly engage to monitor the situation and consider the possibility to introduce universal screening and global preventive measures, at least up to the end of the surge.