Environmental monitoring with passive samplers anticipates H5 HPAI detection in high-density poultry areas of Italy

Early detection of avian influenza virus is essential for disease control in areas that are hotspots for recurrent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epidemics, such as northeastern Italy. A pilot study is being conducted in nine wetlands of the Verona province using passive samplers for environmental monitoring, to evaluate their ability to anticipate viral circulation before clinical outbreaks. H5 HPAI viruses were already identified in the first sampling session, in the absence of reported disease outbreaks in birds in the country. This proves the potential of this strategy to support surveillance and enable early warning for HPAI.