What was behind the first recognition and characterization of autochthonous SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Italy: The impact on European scenario

Abstract

An Italian male with no link to China Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic presented at Emergency Room (ER) with severe respiratory impairment. The RT-PCR on 20 February 2020, nasopharyngeal swab revealed SARS-CoV-2 infection, confirmed with viral culture and sequencing. This was the first identified autochthonous SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Italy, that unveiled global pathogen diffusion. This clinical case highlights an underestimation of SARS-CoV-2 circulation, making initial containment measures unfit to face the real situation and delaying the management of potentially affected SARS-CoV-2 patients.