A football match from February 2020, Atalanta-Valencia played in Milan, remained in the history of the pandemic emergency because it contributed to the spread of Covid cases. The presence of Sars-CoV-2 in Italy was not yet known. “That very football match demonstrated that in large sporting events where there are thousands of fans there can be health risks, today it is clearly no longer Covid, but some recommendations learned then may still be valid: hand hygiene is the first to always be put into practice.” This was explained to Adnkronos Salute by infectious disease specialist Massimo Andreoni, scientific director of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Simit), who thus intervenes on the guide – for fans who will attend the European Football Championships in Germany from today – drawn up by the WHO, together with the German Federal Center for Health Education (Bzga) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
“But if we look at monkeypox – continues Andreoni – two years ago an outbreak at a large party in the Canary Islands then led to the spread of cases in Europe. In events where there are many people in close contact, the risks linked to the spread of diseases increase , even sexually transmitted. For this reason – he observes – the WHO guide recommends the use of condoms, it is known that occasional intercourse increases and it is good to prepare”. Then the expert also does not forget the recommendations “to avoid heat stroke, maintain the same diet without abusing alcohol” and the “need to rehydrate often and cover your head” if you watch the match in sunny stands.