The Iss guidelines

Aviary, in Lombardy first human case in Europe 'returned from Africa': here's what to know

The patient is currently in isolation at the San Gerardo hospital in Monza. Experts: 'Caution, but no alarmism'

by Marzio Bartoloni

25 March 2026

INFLUENZA AVIARIA MALATTI POLLI UCCELLI GENERATE AI IA IMAGOECONOMICA

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Ministry, Regions and Iss: "Situation constantly monitored"
Pregliasco: 'Episodes that are a wake-up call'
The Iss's updated guidelines: what to know

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The Lombardy Region has identified a case of infection with influenza A(H9N2) virus of animal origin (avian) of low pathogenicity, in a frail person with concomitant diseases from a non-European country where he contracted the infection, and is currently hospitalised. This was announced by the Ministry of Health.

This is the first human case of the H9N2 avian influenza strain detected in Europe. Based on the scientific information available to date, the ministry explains in a note, the infection occurs through direct exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments or materials.

Human cases are characterised by mild disease and no person-to-person transmission has ever been reported. All the planned checks were promptly carried out and the contacts of the case were identified, as part of the ordinary prevention and surveillance activities. "The detection of the first European case of H9 influenza in Lombardy should not be a cause for alarm for the population," explained Lombardy's Welfare Councillor Guido Bertolaso. The confirmed case of avian influenza A-H9N2 in Lombardy concerns 'a boy who returned from Africa and was hospitalised a few days after his arrival at Milan Malpensa'.

Ministry, Regions and Iss: 'Situation constantly monitored'

The Ministry of Health immediately activated coordination with the Lombardy Region, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and the group of national reference laboratory experts, and ensured that the relevant international bodies were connected and updated. 'At present, no criticalities are detected and the situation,' the ministry concludes, 'is constantly monitored.

"Thanks to the epidemiological surveillance network active in the region, the first European case of avian influenza subtype H9 has been identified in a patient from abroad. The patient is currently hospitalised in isolation at the San Gerardo hospital in Monza. In addition to treatment for the viral infection, the medical team is managing other concomitant pathologies from which the subject is suffering," warns the Lombardy Region's Regional Councillor for Welfare, Guido Bertolaso. The Region, reads a note, immediately activated coordination procedures with the Ministry of Health and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Iss) 'to guarantee the utmost rigour in case management and contact monitoring'. The epidemiological investigation, Bertolaso explained, 'was promptly conducted by Ats Brianza, while the molecular analyses that allowed the exact identification of the virus were carried out by the State University of Milan and confirmed by the Regional Centre for Infectious Diseases (composed of the General Directorate for Welfare - Operational Unit for Prevention of the Lombardy Region, Asst Fatebenefratelli-Sacco and San Matteo di Pavia) and the Iss', the Higher Institute of Health.

Pregliasco: 'Episodes that are a wake-up call'

Bird flu is a 'typical disease of the chicken that has unfortunately been transmitted to a human being,' Bertolaso pointed out. 'The boy has some concomitant pathologies that are also quite serious,' he explained, 'this will probably have influenced his contracting this pathology as well, but contrary to what happens in cases of this kind, despite being a person suffering from other pathologies, the bird flu has not created any life-threatening danger for this boy. It is a low pathogenic case'.

"In other parts of the world these cases have already been recorded, but never in Europe. Cases of human transmission of avian influenza, although rare, have been monitored for years and are part of already active surveillance systems. It is essential to reinforce epidemiological tracing and to maintain a high level of vigilance, especially in high-risk contexts such as livestock farms," emphasises Fabrizio Pregliasco, director of the school of specialisation in hygiene and preventive medicine at the University of Milan La Statale, in reference to the first case in Europe of infection with the influenza A(H9N2) virus of animal origin (bird flu) ascertained in Lombardy.

'For now, there is no evidence of sustained transmission between humans, but these episodes are a wake-up call on the evolution of influenza viruses. Collaboration between public health, veterinary medicine and institutions,' Pregliasco concludes, 'is the key to preventing possible critical situations.

The Iss's updated guidelines: what to know

The term avian influenza is used to define a viral infection that occurs mainly in birds. In particular,' the Iss explains in its newly updated guidelines, 'wild birds, especially waterfowl, are the main vehicle for the spread of these viruses, which can then be transmitted, for example, to farm animals, causing huge economic damage, and, sporadically, to humans.

Avian viruses have a great ability to mutate and, recently, some of these viral strains have also been transmitted to mammals, including cattle, and pets, particularly cats.

Butis it dangerous to humans? Most avian viruses are relatively harmless to humans, however some viral strains may have mutations that increase the potential to infect other species, including humans. Human cases may be asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. There is currently no confirmation of the possibility of human-to-human transmission of avian viruses. According to the US ECDC, to date the risk of infection for the general population is low and may only become moderate for workers or other personnel exposed on a farm where there are confirmed cases.

Marzio Bartolonicaposervizio
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