Avian influenza in Italy 1997-2001.
From 1997 to 2001, Italy has been affected by two epidemics of high-pathogenicity avian influenza. The first epidemic was caused by a virus of the H5N2 subtype and was limited to eight premises in backyard and semi-intensive flocks. The prompt identification of the disease was followed by the implementation of European Union (EU) directive 92/40/EEC and resulted in the eradication of infection without serious consequences to the poultry industry. The 1999-00 epidemic was caused by a virus of the H7N1 subtype that originated from the mutation of a low pathogenic virus and resulted instead in a devastating epidemic that affected industrially reared poultry, culminating in the infection of 413 flocks. The description of the epidemics and the result of the control policies are reported.
National Reference Laboratory for Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Via Romea 14/A, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
I
I
Capua
S
S
Marangon
M
M
dalla Pozza
C
C
Terregino
G
G
Cattoli
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
D007252:Influenza Vaccines