It lengthenslist of Bergamo municipalities affected by risk control measures in the face of avian influenza outbreaks detected starting from the end of October both in the Cremonese and Brescia areas. In recent days the virus has set foot (perhaps it would be better to say wings and legs) also in the province of Bergamo, where Ats veterinarians are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. According to a note released by the Health Protection Agency and sent to 29 Municipalities, “the presence of the avian influenza virus in wild birds killed in the Municipality of Fontanella” was detected. Hence the invitation, addressed to all outdoor farms, to keep poultry and all captive birds indoors.
Also taking into account the ordinance issued by Ats Bergamo at the end of October, in response to the outbreak detected in a farm in the Cremonese municipality of Casale Cremasco-Vidolasco, the Bergamo area affected by protection, surveillance or more simply control measures to contain the spread of the virus now affects 34 countries, involving, in addition to the Bassa, also part of Val Calepio and the Hinterland.
The Municipalities
According to the order from the end of October, the protection zone concerns Barbata and Isso, while surveillance is also extended to the territories of Antegnate, Bariano, Calcio, Calvenzano, Caravaggio, Covo, Fara, Fontanella, Fornovo, Misano, Morengo, Mozzanica, Pagazzano, Pumenengo, Romano di Lombardia and Torre Pallavicina.
«Clear increase in risk»
A few days ago the veterinary department of Ats Bergamo sent a new communication to most of the municipalities already affected by surveillance, but also to Bagnatica, Bolgare, Calcinate, Castelli Calepio, Cavernago, Cividate al Piano, Cologno al Serio, Cortenuova, Costa di Mezzate, Ghisalba, Grumello del Monte, Martinengo, Mornico al Serio, Palosco, Seriate and Telgate, highlighting «a clear increase in the risk of introducing the virus of avian influenza in the domestic poultry population”. Hence the need to “implement appropriate and effective measures” to reduce this risk. The request to the Administrations is to “monitor, in collaboration with the Veterinary Department of Ats Bergamo”, so that breeders respect the prevention measures.
The main measures
Among the main ones, defined by a regional decree of the General Directorate for Welfare, include the ban on fairs and markets, the obligation to keep poultry and all other birds raised outdoors indoors, both for professional productions and for family use. The aim is to limit contact with wild birds, including through fences and troughs. The invitation is also to regularly sanitize the breeding environments and to monitor any symptoms among the animals, promptly reporting cases of anomalous or suspicious mortality to the ATS Bergamo veterinary service.
