Avian flu in Italy under control, experts reassure

According to the most recent report on avian influenza in Italy, as of September 2024, there were 97 outbreaks among wild birds, 56 among domestic poultry, and 3 among mammals. After February 2025, a single outbreak was recorded on a chicken farm in Piedmont, along with 5 isolations in wild birds during February. Authorities at the ‘Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie’ (IZSVe), which houses the European Reference Laboratory for Avian Flu, assert that the situation in Italy is presently under control. From October 2024 to March 2025, the total number of outbreaks in Europe reached 1,500, comprising 934 outbreaks among wild birds and 566 on farms across 34 countries. Germany and the Netherlands were the most affected countries concerning wild birds, while Poland and Hungary experienced the highest number of outbreaks on farms. Antonia Ricci, General Director of the IZSVe, emphasized the threat posed by the disease to animals due to its rapid dissemination. She further stated that Italy is capable of managing the disease through the implementation of effective control and containment measures. Ricci’s foresight included the necessity for a national strategic plan for controlling avian influenza, including vaccination as a preventative measure. The development of this initiative has been undertaken in collaboration with several governmental bodies, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, the Zooprophylactic Institutes, and local and regional health institutions.