Italy was on the brink of surpassing 100,000 COVID-19 cases in late March 2020, with Lombardy as the epicenter. Yet one small village in this hardest-hit region has reported zero infections, sparking a scientific investigation into its remarkable resilience.
As of the evening of March 29, 2020, Italy recorded 97,689 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 10,779 deaths. Lombardy bore the brunt of the outbreak. According to Italy's ANSA news agency, however, Ferrera Erbognone—a village of about 1,000 residents with an average age of nearly 60 years—has seen no cases at all. This anomaly has prompted the Mondino Institute of Pavia to launch an in-depth investigation.
Researchers plan blood tests on most villagers to detect asymptomatic cases and measure antibody levels. These findings could inform broader studies on immunity, offering potential pathways to combat the pandemic. Globally, at the time, there were over 723,000 cases and around 34,000 deaths across most countries.
Italian officials urge caution, noting the village's immunity might be coincidental. Full results are expected in about two months. Meanwhile, the European Discovery clinical trial— involving France and others—has begun, dividing patients into six groups: one placebo for symptom management, and others testing Kaletra (anti-HIV), interferon beta (immune modulator), Remdesivir (anti-Ebola), and chloroquine (antimalarial).
