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FINLAY ALBARRAN
MEDICAL INSTITUTE
AVIAN INFLUENZA (08): JAPAN (MIYAZAKI), H5N1, POULTRY, WILD BIRDS
Date: Tue 25 Jan 2011
Source: Wall street Journal [edited]<http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/01/25/bird-flu-blow-to-miyazaki/>
Bird Flu Blow to Miyazaki ------------------------- Some 410 000 chickens are expected to be culled over the next few days in the prefecture. That comes after 20 chickens were found dead 23 Jan 2011, and a simple examination of 6 of the birds found 5 as being infected by the H5N1 virus in the southern Japanese prefecture that's famous for its agricultural produce, and one of the top producers of poultry in the country.
The ongoing cull follows that of 10 200 chickens over the weekend after 36 of the birds were discovered dead 21 Jan 2011 in a separate farm 8.5km [5.3 miles] away. The government has ordered all birds and eggs within 10km [6.2 miles] of the farms to be destroyed and has agreed to deploy 170 members of the Ground Self-Defense Force to help with the process. While the chickens culled over the weekend were incinerated, the 410 000 birds doomed in the latest episode are simply too many for incineration - the bodies will be buried instead.
The new cases will fuel concerns after an H5N1 outbreak in Shimane Prefecture in November 2010, the country's 1st case [in domestic poultry] of [HPAI] in 3 years.
Still, Japan is not the only country in the region suffering from the scourge of the poultry industry; South Korea's and China have outbreaks also.
[Byline: By Yuri Tomikawa]
-- Communicated by: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
[The current outbreak in Miyazaki is the 4th since the start of this epizootic on 29 Nov 2010. It has been promptly reported by Japan to the OIE in follow-up report Number 5. See, with map, at <http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=10185>.
The report includes the following epidemiological comments:
"On 21 Jan 2011, a local veterinary officer visited a farm immediately after notification from the farmer and collected specimens for inspection. On 22 Jan 2011, Miyazaki prefecture confirmed the samples were positive to influenza A subtype H5 by RT-PCR. All poultry kept in the farm were destroyed by 23 Jan 2011.
"On 23 Jan 2011, the prefecture confirmed [that] samples collected in another farm located at about 8.5 km away from the 1st farm were also positive to influenza A subtype H5 by RT-PCR. All poultry kept in the same site (12 henhouses) are being destroyed as susceptible animals.
"The National Institute of Animal Health confirmed [on 24 Jan 2011] that an isolate from the 1st farm contained highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI] viruses subtype H5N1. The virus is a closely-related strain to the viruses isolated in Shimane prefecture, Toyama prefecture and Kagoshima prefecture. An isolate from the other farm is being tested.
"Movement restrictions have been instituted within 10 km around the 1st farm since 21 Jan 2011, and within 10 km around the other affected farm since 23 Jan 2011."
Since 16 Dec 2010, 5 H5N1 foci of infection have been reported in wild birds, stretched throughout Japan; a summary of this wildlife event, reported separately and including an interactive map, is available at <http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=10072>. The most recent case was covered in follow-up report Number 3, submitted to the OIE on 25 Jan 2011. It includes the following epidemiological comments:
"On 19 Jan 2011, a weak whooper swan was detected near a swamp in Hamanaka-cho, Hokkaido. On 22 Jan 2011, Hokkaido University confirmed that an isolate from the bird contained HPAI virus subtype H5N1.
"In addition, on 23 Jan 2011, the university confirmed that 4 other dead wild birds (2 whooper swans, 1 northern pintail and 1 wild duck (_Aythya_ genus) collected near the swamp between 12 Jan 2011 and 19 Jan 2011 were also positive to HPAI subtype H5N1.
"There are 4 poultry holdings within 10 km around the swamp. Hokkaido confirmed there was no case in the holdings." - Mod.AS]
[Whooper swan: <http://valerieham.net/graphics/whooperswan.jpg> Northern pintail: <http://www.focusonnature.com/BirdLi950.jpg> Wild duck (_Aethya sp._): <http://www.milbourne.net/HOSTEDSITES/blagdonlakebirds/Assets/images/1DS03077%20Drake%20Aythya%20hybrid,%20Cheddar%20Water.JPG> - Mod.JW]
[see also: Avian influenza (06): Japan (FS), H5N1, wild birds 20110121.0245 2010 ---- Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (07): Japan 20101227.4562 Avian influenza (64): Japan (TY) HPAI H5, OIE 20101221.4492 Avian influenza (58): Japan (SM) HPAI H5N1 20101206.4366 Avian influenza (56): Japan (SM) HPAI H5, OIE 20101202.4330 Avian influenza (55): Japan (SM) susp, RFI 20101130.4303]
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