The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received follow-up report no. 1 on Wednesday, 21 August.

According to the report, out of 584,900 susceptible birds, one case was identified. No deaths were reported, and no birds were destroyed.

On the basis of the monitoring activities implemented after the detection of the primary outbreak in Ostellato, Ferrara province, notified on 15 August, a secondary outbreak has been confirmed in Mordano, Bologna province, affecting a commercial farm of layer hens belonging to the same company.

According to the OIE, in the secondary outbreak HPAI subtype H7 has been detected at RT-PCR and no clinical signs have been identified.

Restriction zone has been established, depopulation will be carried out and epidemiological investigation is on-going.

The depopulation operation in the primary outbreak, in Ostellato, Ferrara province, was completed yesterday, 21 August, followed by cleaning and disinfection.

The National Reference Laboratory in Padova confirmed that the virus isolated is an HPAI H7N7 showing an IVPI 3,0.

Genome sequencing as well as the epidemiological investigation are ongoing.

Preliminary information would suggest that a LPAI virus entered the farm (possibly via wild birds) where it mutated to a HPAI strain.

The source of the outbreaks remains inconclusive.