Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Japan: MAFF Announces HPAI H5 Outbreak In Kumamoto Prefecture












#12,056

Although HPAI H5N6 arrived in Japan via migratory birds very shortly after landing in South Korea, and Japan has nearly 120 detections of the virus in the wild, the difference between the impact on the Korean poultry Industry and Japan's has been like night and day. 

Korea has either lost or depopulated in excess of 25 million birds across more than 200 farms, while Japan is only reporting their 7th poultry outbreak today. 

Exactly why the virus has spread so much faster in South Korea than  Japan remains unknown, and will no doubt be the subject of intense post-mortem investigation.


First today's announcement from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF), followed by an update from Japan's Ministry of Environment on non-farm HPAI dectections.


For confirmation of the suspected affected animals of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kumamoto Prefecture


2016 December 27, 

the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
For cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza is suspected in Kumamoto Prefecture, which has been confirmed yesterday, the results of genetic testing, is an H5 subtype, today, it has been confirmed to be a suspected affected animals of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

1. Overview

For cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza is suspected in Kumamoto Prefecture, which has been confirmed yesterday, the results of genetic testing, is an H5 subtype, today, it has been confirmed to be a suspected affected animals of highly pathogenic avian influenza. 

In the future, we will conduct the testing in animal health research department (Note) NA subtype.

(Note) The National Research and Development Institute of Agriculture and Food Research Organization of Animal Health Research Institute: Japan's only research institute on animal health (Kenichi Division Sakamoto) 

2. Other

(1) The farm has to refrain from moves such as breeding poultry from the point at which there was a report from the farmers.
(2) In Japan, this by eating poultry meat and poultry eggs to, cases of avian influenza virus was transmitted to humans has not been reported.
(3) interviews in the field, that there is a possibility that the cause of the spread of the disease, since it could violate the privacy of those farmers, thank you for your cooperation as abstain strictly.
(4) In the future, so we will endeavor to provide quick and accurate information, so as not to be confused by such production relations and consumers, such as who is unfounded rumor, thank you for your cooperation.

In the 8 days since we last checked in with Japan's Ministry of Environment the number of wild bird and environmental detections of HPAI H5 has jumped from 70 in 13 Prefectures to 117 across 15 Prefectures.

Wild birds for avian influenza occurrence in the domestic (case of being monitored)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed number in wild birds (breeding birds, feces, including water samples)
2016 December 26, 2008 21 : 30 current 15 prefectures 117

To put this in some kind of perspective, during America's 2014-15   epizootic of H5N8 - during which time more than 220 farms were affected and 50 million birds were destroyed - fewer than 90 wild birds were found carrying the virus across all of the United States.

As we've seen with HPAI H5N8 in Europe this fall, HPAI H5N6 appears to be spreading more aggressively via wild and migratory birds than we've seen previously. 

A listing of the press releases on these detections since the 19th follows:
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