ItalyThe European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports 123 confirmed cases of dermatophilosis, also known as 'rain disease,' across 10 European countries since December 2025. The infection, caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis, which was previously mainly associated with veterinary medicine, is now spreading through direct physical contact and sexual transmission. While Italy has not reported any cases, the ECDC notes a shift in epidemiology, suggesting human-to-human transmission is becoming more common. Cases are predominantly among men who have sex with men, often linked to recent visits to venues like saunas. Symptoms include skin lesions such as papules, pustules, crusts, and itching, though the condition typically has a mild course and responds well to antibiotics. Dr. Fabrizio Pregliasco clarifies that the informal name 'rain disease' comes from veterinary terms like 'rain rot' and is not directly related to rain but rather prolonged humidity facilitating bacterial spread.
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