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| Gifu Prefecture - Credit Wikipedia |
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Japan has been dealing with multiple outbreaks Classical Swine Fever - for the first time in 26 years - since last September (see Japan: MAFF Confirms Classical Swine Fever Outbreak). So far, the disease has only been detected in Gifu Prefecture.
Five days after reporting their 3rd farm outbreak of Classical Swine Fever (at a Gifu Livestock Research Institute), Japan's MAFF is reporting a 4th occurrence - this time a wild boar breeding facility in Gifu - about 12 miles distance from last week's outbreak.
While often clinically indistinguishable from African Swine Fever (ASF), Classical Swine Fever is caused by a different virus (genus Pestivirus, family Flaviviridae). Unlike with ASF, there is a vaccine for Classical Swine Fever.Both diseases - while posing no human health threat - are highly contagious among pigs, and can be economically devastating to pork producers. Today's statement from Japan's MAFF follows:
(translated)
Confirmation of suspected slaughter of swine fever in Gifu prefecture (4th case - feeding)
December 10, Heisei 30
Ministry of Agriculture
Today, at the animal feeding facility in Seki, Gifu Prefecture, mock animals of domestic animal infectious disease, swine fever were confirmed.
We will do everything about the epidemic prevention measures of the disease.
We ask for your cooperation so that we can refrain from scrutinizing at the work site, as it may cause the spread of this disease, and it may invade personal privacy.
1. Outline of the occurrence facility
Location: Gifu Prefecture Seki (Facilities about 12 km away from the third generation facility)
Feeding situation: wild boar (22 head)
2. Background
(1) On December 9th, Gifu Prefecture took an on-site inspection for the facility in response to a notification that anagaining exhibits an abnormality.
(2) On 10th December, we conducted a disease assessment at the Central Livestock Health and Sanitation Center in Gifu Prefecture concerning this fun and confirmed that it is a suspected swine of swine fever. (4th example)
3. Future response
Based on "Specific Animal Infectious Disease Control Guidelines on Hog Cholera", we will take all possible measures against the following epidemic measures.
(1) We will promptly and appropriately implement the necessary epidemic measures such as the killing and burning of the breeding of the facility at the facility, the setting of the movement restricted area, etc.
(2) We will promptly check the occurrence status of the farm within the movement restricted area.
(3) In order to prevent the spread of infection, we will strengthen disinfection around the outbreak facility and establish a disinfection point on the main road.
(4) We will send a national epidemiological survey team to investigate the infection route etc.
(5) We will strive to provide accurate information to producers, consumers, distributors, etc. while trying to fully collaborate with related ministries and agencies.
(6) Ensuring guidance on compliance with feeding hygiene management standards such as disinfection of farms and prevention of intrusion of wild animals to farms
(7) We investigate and investigate all possible possibilities for investigation of infection route etc. and prevention of spread.
4. OtherEven as Japan attempts to contain this outbreak of CSF, they are keeping a wary eye on the spread of African Swine Fever in nearby China, and are taking steps to try to prevent its import (see Japan MAFF: ASF Virus Detected In Luggage At Hokkaido Airport )
(1) Farmed breeds are subject to epidemic measures based on the provisions of the Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Law.
(2) Hog cholera is a disease of pigs and wild boars, and it does not infect people.
(3) Thank you for your cooperation so that we can refrain from spreading the scene at the work site, as it may cause the spread of this disease, and may violate the privacy of individuals.
(4) Since we will make efforts to provide information promptly and accurately, cooperation is requested so that stakeholders and consumers, such as producers, will not be confused by unfounded rumors.
As far as the history of CSF eradication in Japan is concerned, in 2007 MAFF produced the following summary:
The eradication of classical swine fever in Japan
Classical swine fever, which is an acute infectious disease in pigs, existed throughout Japan but the outbreaks had decreased sharply with the improvement of the disease control and herd management technologies and the implementation of a live vaccine from 1969. No outbreak has been observed since 1992.
Under such circumstances, eradication program has been introduced step by step since 1996 to establish control measures without vaccination and thus to fully eradicate this disease with the cooperation of prefecture and local governments, producers and all other related organizations.
As a part of the measures, we have completely banned vaccinations since April 1st, 2006, and watched the disease. One year had passed since then and we had reported the achievement of the eradication program to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). According to the requirement of the OIE code, Japan had become a classical swine fever free country on April 1st, 2007.
Last September the OIE withdrew/suspended Japan's hard won status as being free of the disease (see OIE Statement), leaving only 34 countries with that coveted designation.
