Hunting and Fauna: Emilia Romagna, the use of live calls for hunting has been suspended to prevent any contagion and spread of avian flu.
The use of decoy birds for hunting has been suspended in Emilia Romagna. This is a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the H7N7 avian influenza virus, provided for by an ordinance of the Ministry of Health in all cases in which epidemiological conditions change on the national territory. A technical report was presented by the regional councilors Carlo Lusenti and Tiberio Rabboni to take stock of the avian situation in the region. At the moment there are no new cases of contagion in humans after the two - one confirmed, the other suspected - identified in Mordano. The hypothesis is that the virus arrived in Emilia-Romagna from migrating ducks (this is the most supported hypothesis, contained in the report) that would have contaminated the outdoor parks of the farms, where, during the day, the hens were scratching. From there the virus would then be transmitted both with the transport of the eggs and with a probable aerogenic spread., Which would have contaminated the farms, and then transmitted with the transport of the eggs and with a probable aerogenic spread. The Region, in agreement with the Ministry of Health, has adopted all the procedures for controlling the infection. Health surveillance has been arranged for exposed workers and controls continue on farms. To date, there are four outbreaks.
H7N7 virus and human transmission Laying hens
The H7N7 virus is not easily transmitted to humans, who can only become infected if they come into direct contact with the sick or dead animal. Unlike other avian viruses (for example H7N9 or H5N1), H7N7 tends to cause a mild disease in humans (such as conjunctivitis), as was already observed in an epidemic that occurred years ago in the Netherlands, where 7-8% of staff in close contact with animals developed conjunctivitis, and about 2% a flu syndrome. Except for conjunctivitis, person-to-person transmission is exceptional, so community risk is extremely low or even negligible.
Measures for health surveillance
On the recommendation of the Public Health Departments (DSP) of the two areas concerned, coordinated by the Regional Public Health Service, health surveillance was arranged for exposed workers with indication of a daily visit by the competent doctor of all workers for a period of 10 days from the last exposure (maximum of the incubation period). The controls on the farms are continuing unabated and at present no other positive results have emerged. To date, four outbreaks have been confirmed, of which the last identified is that of Mordano. The culling of the birds, already completed in two farms (Ostellato and Portomaggiore), will be completed and concluded on the evening of today Wednesday 4 September.
The use of decoy birds suspended
The use of decoy birds for hunting has been suspended in Emilia-Romagna. This is a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the H7N7 avian influenza virus, provided for by an ordinance of the Ministry of Health in all cases in which epidemiological conditions change on the national territory. The provision that will in fact become operational from 15 September, the date of the opening of hunting on the regional territory, concerns decoy birds belonging to the orders of the anseriformes and charadriformes.
The poultry sector in the region
In Emilia-Romagna (second region in Italy) producer of poultry meat there are over 1.100 farms of different poultry species, with an estimated number of 36 million heads. The poultry sector in Emilia-Romagna is worth over 600 million euros, that of eggs over 320 million euros. Farmers affected by the disease are reimbursed for the value of the animals killed at the price of the national commercial price lists, the feed stored on the farm and the destroyed eggs. The compensation is anticipated by the Region and reimbursed by the State and the Community if the settlement to the farmer is completed within 60 days from the end of the post-culling observation period (21 days).
4 September 2013
Emilia Romagna region