Italy Confirms First Human Case of H9N2 Avian Influenza in Europe

Italy has confirmed the first human case of H9N2 avian influenza in Europe, involving an individual who had traveled from outside the continent. This was reported by Euronews. The patient, who arrived in the Lombardy region, has been hospitalized with influenza A(H9N2) – a subtype of avian influenza – the Italian Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday, March 25.

“All necessary checks were carried out promptly, and the case’s contacts have been identified as part of routine prevention and surveillance activities,” the ministry stated in an official release. The patient has underlying health conditions and is currently in hospital isolation receiving treatment.

According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 195 cases of human infection with the A(H9N2) virus were recorded worldwide in ten countries across Asia and Africa between 1998 and February 27, 2026. The agency emphasizes that no clusters of human cases or human-to-human transmission have been identified to date. Human infection most commonly occurs through direct contact with infected birds or a contaminated environment.

“Sporadic cases of avian influenza in humans are not unexpected in areas where the virus circulates in birds,” the ECDC added.

In its latest monitoring report published this month, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported that 10 human cases of avian influenza, with no fatalities, were recorded between November 29, 2025, and February 27, 2026.

All cases were reported in Cambodia – one case of A(H5N1) – and in China, where eight cases of A(H9N2) and one of A(H10N3) were recorded.

Based on information from the Italian health authorities and knowledge of the virus’s spread, the ECDC assesses the risk to the population in the European Union and the European Economic Area as very low.