The SARS-CoV-2 spread is a threatening and challenging issue for correctional systems worldwide because of many factors, particularly overcrowding and of the intrinsic characteristics of the population. The prevention measures adopted by the Italian Government were aimed to protect and preserve both inmates’ and prison workers’ health. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the adopted strategies. Methods: Data regarding Italian prisons’ occupation and prisoners’ population from January 2019 to June 2021, as well as the cumulative weekly increase of confirmed cases and the number of doses of vaccine administered among the population of inmates, the prison workers, and Italian population from November 2020 to the end of June 2021, were collected. Results: Prisons’ occupation dropped from 120% to 106% after the beginning of the pandemics. The confirmed cases between inmates were consistently lower than among the Italian population and prison workers. A time-series chart showed a time lag of one week between the peaks of the different population. Conclusions: The containing strategies adopted by the Italian correctional system have proved their effectiveness in terms of the prevention and protection of both inmate and staff health.

“Overkill” is characterized by the finding of excessive wounds on the victim’s body. Despite the large use of this term, it does not have a definition in the literature yet. Our study aimed to analyze the information related to the dynamics of overkill cases, collecting objective variables, and producing a profile of the players involved in this type of homicides. Data on 71 overkill cases from reports of the autopsies performed in the Section of Legal Medicine of the University of Rome Tor Vergata from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2020 were collected. The victims and the perpetrators of overkill shared similar characteristics: they were usually male aged between 20 and 50 years, more likely in the 20–35 years range; victims however also showed another age peak in the range 50–55 years. The type of damage can be linked to the sole action of a cold weapon or the simultaneous use of multiple harmful tools with no significant differences. The most common motive proved to be a dispute for futile reasons; however, in the case of a single perpetrator of the crime, the economic and passionate motives are as frequent as the previous one. Implications of the findings and avenues for future research are discussed.

Nipah virus (NiV), a deadly zoonotic pathogen with a fatality rate of 40-75%, continues to pose a significant pandemic threat, as evidenced by recent outbreaks in Kerala, India (2023 and 2024). These events highlight NiV's potential for human-to-human transmission, particularly in healthcare settings, and its ability to cause severe respiratory and neurological disease. Given the absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics, this review explores the implementation of CBRNE strategies for outbreak containment. We analyze how military-developed protocols - including high-level biocontainment units, aerosolized disinfectant systems, and controlled movement zones - could be adapted to manage NiV's unique challenges. The discussion focuses on practical applications: rapid deployment of mobile isolation pods for patients, strict corpse management procedures to prevent environmental contamination, and specialized equipment requirements for healthcare workers. Recent outbreak responses in India demonstrate the critical need for such approaches, particularly given NiV's potential for airborne transmission and environmental persistence. We suggest how the integrating CBRNE principles into public health preparedness plans could significantly reduce transmission risks during NiV outbreaks while maintaining essential societal functions. This review provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of pre-outbreak training, interagency coordination, and targeted resource allocation to address this growing biological threat.

Autops Case Rep, vol.14, e2024482, 2024