Gaudenzio Grassi

Gaudenzio Grassi, a 75-year-old resident of Vespolate in Novara, Italy, became the first victim of the West Nile virus in 2025 after being infected by a mosquito. Despite initial responses to treatment, his condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to hospitalization where he succumbed to the infection. Grassi had a long career working at the offices of Vercelli for the National Seed Authority, which later became part of the Council for Research in Agriculture and the Analysis of Agricultural Economy.