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Dear Readers,
In this issue 41/2026 of the National Veterinary Epidemiological Bulletin, we present three articles.
The Publications section opens with a contribution on the introduction of Lumpy Skin Disease in Italy in 2025: health response, epidemic control and European perspectives.The article describes the initial phases of the emergency, the measures adopted for the containment and eradication of the disease, and the coordination among the different institutional levels. It also discusses the European context, highlighting the challenges related to transboundary spread and the importance of shared prevention and control strategies.
The second article, Foot-and-mouth disease: epidemiological updates, provides an updated overview of the international epidemiological situation of the disease, emphasising its persistent impact on the global livestock sector. Recent dynamics observed in Europe are analysed, including episodes of re-emergence in previously disease-free countries, together with the epidemiological pressure exerted by endemic areas in the Mediterranean basin, North Africa and the Near East. The article also examines viral variability and serotype distribution, underlining how these factors influence control strategies. Overall, it highlights the need to maintain high levels of vigilance, strengthen surveillance systems, and invest in prevention and biosecurity measures, even in currently disease-free settings.
The third article, Peste des petits ruminants in Europe: the 2024–2025 alert and the new frontier of surveillance, analyses the recent evolution of the disease across the European continent, showing how incursions recorded in South-Eastern Europe have marked a significant shift in the epidemiological scenario. Through a reconstruction of the chronology of events and the dynamics of spread, also informed by molecular epidemiology, the article highlights the increasing pressure from endemic areas and the role of animal movements in virus dissemination. It further explores the European framework for prevention and control measures and the strengthening of surveillance systems, underlining the implications for still disease-free countries, including Italy. Overall, the need for a proactive and integrated approach emerges, based on continuous vigilance, rapid diagnostics and coordination among the various actors of the veterinary health system.
These contributions provide an updated overview of the main emerging and exotic animal health threats, highlighting how disease-free status should not be considered a static condition, but rather a dynamic equilibrium exposed to continuous epidemiological pressures. In this context, even well-established health systems may prove vulnerable to the introduction or reintroduction of high-impact pathogens. This underscores the need to maintain high levels of vigilance, ensure rapid response capacity and strengthen international cooperation, which are essential elements for the effective and sustainable protection of animal and public health.
As usual, in the Data and Maps section you can generate updated and detailed maps of the distribution of the main animal diseases reported in SIMAN, adapting them to your specific needs.
In the Disease-Free Territories section, we report that:
- With regard to infection by Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis in bovine populations, disease-free status for bovine brucellosis has been formally granted to the provinces of Caltanissetta, Trapani, Isernia and Chieti, in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/293 of 9 February 2026.
- With regard to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. bovis, M. caprae and M. tuberculosis), the suspension of disease-free status for the provinces of Bari and Isernia and the withdrawal of disease-free status for the province of Catanzaro are reported, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689.
- For infection with bluetongue virus (serotypes 1–24), the loss of disease-free status occurred following the evolution of the national epidemiological situation and in application of the current legislation (Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620). Following the loss of disease-free status by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in 2025, the last previously disease-free area, the entire national territory is currently considered non disease-free.
In the News section, scientific updates related to 2026 and previous years (2011–2024) are published.
In the Submit your article section, accessible via the drop-down menu Discover online services, it is possible to consult the author guidelines and submit articles and short communications to the BENV editorial team.
You can contact us by sending an e-mail to benv@izs.it
We hope you enjoy reading this new issue.
Francesca Dall'Acqua
Veterinary Operational Centre for Epidemiology, Planning, Information and Risk Analysis (COVEPI)
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”
f.dallacqua@izs.it
