First Human Case of Bird Flu A(H9N2) Detected in Italy, Europe
Italy’s Ministry of Health confirmed Wednesday the first documented European case of avian influenza A(H9N2) in a person in the Lombardy region.
The patient, described as having underlying health conditions, contracted the infection in a country outside of Europe before traveling to Italy and is currently hospitalized, according to an official ministry statement. The case is being closely monitored, but authorities emphasize there is no immediate public health alarm.
Health officials specified that the virus is of animal origin and exhibits low pathogenicity. Based on currently available information, transmission occurs through direct exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments, the ministry stated. Epidemiologist Gianni Rezza told ANSA news agency that the case was imported and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, characterizing it as an isolated incident.
Following identification of the case, standard surveillance and prevention protocols have been activated, including tracing and monitoring of close contacts. The Ministry of Health is coordinating with the Lombardy region, the National Institute of Health (ISS), and national laboratory experts, and is keeping international health organizations informed.
While this marks the first human case of H9N2 in Europe, global health authorities have previously recorded over 170 human cases of the H9N2 strain, none of which have demonstrated human-to-human transmission, according to Rezza. He noted that the virus has undergone mutations increasing its affinity for human receptors, but not to a level enabling efficient person-to-person spread.
The H9N2 virus is a subtype of the influenza A virus originating in birds. The Ministry of Health stated that human cases to date have generally presented with mild symptoms. Fabrizio Pregliasco, an epidemiologist, described the case as a signal of viral evolution that warrants monitoring, but cautioned against alarm, according to TAG24.
The patient reportedly arrived in Milan last week exhibiting flu-like symptoms – high fever and cough – and was admitted to a hospital where testing confirmed the avian influenza A(H9N2) infection.
Despite the reassurance, Rezza emphasized the importance of continued vigilance regarding avian viruses and those transmitted from animals, noting the potential for a species jump. The Ministry of Health confirmed that no critical situations have been identified and the situation remains under constant monitoring.