In recent days, strong concern has spread in Naples over an alleged meningitis outbreak, a concern fueled by voice messages and WhatsApp chains that spoke of serious cases, widespread infections and even deaths. But what is true?
The alarm was raised after the precautionary closure of a school, a decision that contributed to strengthening the fear of an ongoing epidemic. Messages began to circulate on social media and in private chats inviting people to avoid hospitals, clubs and crowded places, speaking of highly contagious meningitis.
In particular, an audio message that went viral spoke of an alleged case urgently transferred to the Cotugno hospital. In reality, a 16-year-old boy was hospitalized for meningitis, but it was a non-infectious variant and therefore not contagious, contrary to what the viral messages claimed.
The official denial from the Cotugno hospital
The Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli – Cotugno Hospital in Naples intervened directly to clarify the matter, issuing an official note to deny the existence of an outbreak.
According to what was communicated by the hospital, the patients currently hospitalized have different pathogenic matrices, the cases cannot be traced back to a single infectious strain and the incidence is within the expected seasonal flow charts, also in relation to the sharp drop in temperatures.
Three people affected by Neisseria meningitidis they know each other, but – explain the health workers – there is no temporal correlation such as to suggest a direct chain of contagion.
The hospital absolutely does not speak of deaths and specifies that all patients are followed carefully. The ASL Public Health and Hygiene Service is completing the required screening and surveillance protocols, as normally happens in these cases.
In other words there is no epidemic, no outbreak on premises or in schools, but individual cases managed according to standard health procedures.
The fake news also affected some locals
Among the places indicated by WhatsApp messages as “to be avoided” due to an alleged risk of contagion was the Ambasciatori Club Restaurant in the Chiaia district. The owner, Peppe Pelosi, wanted to clarify the situation with a post on social media, explaining:
I would like to make it clear that there is no meningitis outbreak that can be traced back to me, nor to places or activities with which I collaborate. This is fake news without any foundation, spread with the sole aim of damaging my reputation and that of the Ambassadors.
The restaurant owner’s lawyer also made it known that he will proceed with the complaint to the Postal Police so that we can understand who circulated this unfounded alarm.
We don’t feed fake news
Meningitis is a scary disease, and for this reason it often becomes fertile ground for misinformation and alarmism. Unverified messages can generate unjustified panic and cause serious damage to people, schools and businesses. It is important not to fall into these traps.
To defend yourself from fake news, especially when they talk about health, the golden rule is to choose reliable sources. It is necessary to refer only to official communications from ASL, hospitals, Regions or the Ministry of Health, avoiding giving credence to messages such as “there are rumours” or “a friend told me”.
Another fundamental point: do not share alarmist voice messages or texts received on WhatsApp or social media if there is no official confirmation. Even forwarding them “as a precaution” can help spread fear and misinformation.
In this case, the official data speaks clearly: there is no meningitis emergency in Naples, but just a lot of fear fueled by yet another fake news.
