12.09.2013

Three more farms confirmed cases of the H7N7 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza since Aug. 28, bringing the total number of outbreaks to six.
Two of the new cases were at industrial farms owned by a poultry company affected by a previous outbreak, while the third involved a rural backyard flock, according to the report. Almost 220,000 birds were slaughtered in the three locations to stem the spread of the disease. More than 730,000 were killed in the prior three outbreaks.

The 4th outbreak: Layer holding located in Mordano municipality, Bologna province, belonging to the same poultry company. Located in the Protection Zone of the second outbreak. Number of birds : 121,705 laying hens (5 sheds). Depopulation completed on 08/09/2013.
The 5th outbreak: Pullet holding located in Mordano municipality, Bologna province, belonging to the same poultry company as the previous outbreaks in Mordano and Ostellato (outbreaks n. 1, 2,4). Located in the Protection Zone between the 2nd and 4th outbreaks (about 1.5 Km from both farms). Number of birds : 98.200 pullets. Depopulation completed on 8 September 2013.

The 6th outbreak: Rural free-range farm in Bondeno municipality, Ferrara province (Emilia Romagna Region). Number of birds : 6 layers. Depopulation measures completed on 5 September 2013.

The IVPI of the H7N7 virus (outbreak 1): 3. Viruses with distinct genetic characteristics were found in the farm.

The sequences of ALL the viruses are closely related between each other with nucleotide similarity ranging from 99.8% to 100% for all the gene segments. Multiple basic amino acid motif at the HA cleavage site: PKRRERR*G or PKRKRR*G.

Three human cases were identified:

28 August 2013 – first human case of conjunctivitis
31 August 2013 - second case of conjunctivitis and Influenza-like illness
04 September - third case of conjunctivitis