H5N8 Avian Influenza in Lombardy

On 21^th July 2017, the Italian Ministry of Health transmitted the positivity to influenza A virus type H5N8 subtype in Lombardy, in the province of Mantua. Positivity was confirmed by the National reference Centre for Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease (CRN) of the IZSVe on 20 July in a rural and fattening turkey farms in the municipalities of CastelGoffredo and Roncoferraro respectively, and on July 21 in a layin hens farm located in Castiglione delle Stiviere (figure 1).

Restriction measures such as the establishment of protection and surveillance zones have been applied. From early information received on the basis of epidemiological investigation, in the fattening turkey’s farm, mortality increased in one of the sheds, while the laying hens’ farm had already been suspected in previous days.

More information on the outbreaks and the virus typing are available on the CRN website and will be also published as soon as available on the Benv website in the News section in the next days.

Figure 1. H5N8 outbreaks in the province of Mantova reported to SIMAN

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