In questo numero
In this number
Dear Readers,
In this issue 40/2025 of the National Veterinary Epidemiological Bulletin, we present three articles.
The Publications section opens with an article on Bluetongue in Europe and Italy: old knowledge and new scenarios.The article analyses the evolution of Bluetongue at both European and national levels, with particular attention to the most recent epidemiological changes. It highlights the impact of climatic and regulatory factors on the spread of the disease and reiterates the central role of surveillance, movement control, and vaccination in managing and containing outbreaks.
The second article, From poultry to wild birds and mammals: the genetic evolution of the HPAI H5N1 avian influenza virus and the concern about future human-to-human transmission, explores the evolution of the HPAI H5N1 virus from poultry to wild birds and mammals, highlighting the risks of human-to-human transmission. The latest European and Italian control strategies are described from a One Health perspective, integrating surveillance, biosecurity, and a coordinated response at both national and international levels.
The third article, West Nile Virus: twenty years later, a multifactorial challenge, reviews the ecological and climatic dynamics that have favoured its spread. Two decades after its emergence in Italy, West Nile Virus remains an endemic–epidemic pathogen, whose management requires an integrated strategy combining veterinary, human, and entomological surveillance, together with environmental and individual preventive measures to reduce risk and protect public health.
These contributions provide an up-to-date overview of the main epidemiological challenges in the veterinary field, emphasizing the importance of an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to the 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 note that:
- The Province of Alessandria (Piedmont) has lost its disease-free status for infections by Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis in sheep and goat populations, in accordance with EU Regulation No. 1401 of 15 July 2025.
- In October 2025, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (Trentino-Alto Adige), which until then had been the only province free from Bluetongue disease, lost its disease-free status; consequently, the entire Italian territory is now considered endemic for the disease.
In the News section, scientific updates related to 2025 and previous years (2011–2024) are published.
In the Submit your articlesection, accessible via the “Discover online services” drop-down menu, you can consult the author guidelines and submit articles or short news items to the BENV editorial staff. For contact, please write to: benv@izs.it.
I wish you a pleasant reading of this new issue.
Francesca Dall'Acqua
Please note that the English translations of the articles (and of our website content) in this issue, as well as those from previous issues, have been carried out by me, Francesca Dall’Acqua, to ensure continuity and quality across our publications.
Centro Operativo Veterinario per l'Epidemiologia, Programmazione, Informazione e Analisi del Rischio (COVEPI)
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”
f.dallacqua@izs.it
