Aero-medical evacuation has been considered as a feasible and safe treatment option during COVID pandemic, particularly when the needs of affected patients exceed what local clinics and hospitals are supposed to provide. In this article, we analyzed the clinical course of 17 patients medically evacuated to the “L. Spallanzani” Institute in Rome, Italy from foreign countries, mainly Africa and Eastern Europe, who had COVID-19 pneumonia with, or without, coinfections such as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and microbiologically confirmed sepsis syndrome. The aero-medical evacuation of patients with infectious diseases has become one of the greatest medical achievements we have reached during this pandemic; in fact, only two patients with life threatening coinfections have died. Although logistically difficult and cost consuming, medical evacuation should be considered as a treatment option more than a single extraordinary measure, especially among complex cases that require specific technical and human resources.

In 2025, Rome hosted the Catholic Jubilee, recording over 33 million cumulative pilgrim attendances while simultaneously facing the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Leo XIV, and a regional West Nile Virus (WNV) outbreak. This commentary describes the Lazio Region’s preparedness strategy, based on adapting an existing Hub-and-Spoke infectious diseases network integrating surveillance with Regional Service for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Control of Infectious Diseases (SERESMI) laboratory support, telemedicine, and clinical management. Preparatory measures included an additional Hub, updated syndromic pathways, multidisciplinary coordination, and enhanced surveillance. Emergency department visits increased by 14.8%, while the proportion of infectious syndromes remained stable. This experience highlights the potential value of strengthening existing healthcare networks for mass gathering preparedness.

The incidence rate of Legionnaires’ disease (LDIR) has increased in many countries over the last decade. However, the combined contribution of demogr

Legionnaires’ disease (LD) is an atypical pneumonia sustained by Legionella bacteria. The epidemiological LD scenario in the urban area of Rome (Italy) is unique, moving from facing the COVID-19 pandemic, first capital city in Europe, to the preparation of the 2025 Catholic Jubilee, starting on from December 24, 2024. To provide key determinants for risk assessment in the setting of public health and clinical preparedness activities, we analysed data on LD cases collected from Regional Lazio Surveillance Systems during the 2017-2024 interval period.