First imported human case of influenza A(H9N2) infection in the EU

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Source: ECDC News

Original: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/first-imported-human-case-influenza-ah...

Published: Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:46:38 +0100

The first human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) infection in the European Union and the European Economic Area was reported in the Lombardy region of Italy. The patient was a traveler who had returned from a non-European country where the virus had previously been identified in birds. This is a historically significant case, as it is the first confirmed human infection with the H9N2 virus in the EU/EEA. The case highlights the risk of avian flu transmission to humans, especially in connection with travel from areas where the virus occurs in animals. This finding emphasizes the need for monitoring and vigilance against new influenza virus variants in Europe.