Japan MAFF: 26th Farm Outbreak Of Classical Swine Fever

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Last September - a little more than a month after China announced their first outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) - Japan announced the discovery of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) in Gifu Prefecture (see Japan: MAFF Confirms Classical Swine Fever Outbreak).

CSF, while similar in appearance and impact to African Swine Fever (ASF), is caused by a different virus. The virus returned to Japan last September after an absence of 26 years, and has infected both farm animals and wild boar in Gifu and Aichi Prefectures.

Both ASF and CSF are highly contagious among pigs, and can be economically devastating for pork producers, but neither disease poses a direct human health threat.

While the disease remains confined to just Gifu and Aichi Prefectures, the pace of farm outbreaks and detection in wild boar has increased markedly over the past 90 days. 

It took 5 months to rack up the first 10 farm outbreaks, but in the 90 days since, Japan has reported another 16 farm outbreaks.

A translated report from Japan's MAFF announcing their 26th farm outbreak follows:

Confirmation of suspected affected animals of swine fever in Aichi Prefecture, about (26 cases eyes domestic)
Year 12 June 12
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

From yesterday, when we performed cleanliness check of pig cholera at a pig farming farm in Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture, located in the 23rd movement restricted area in Japan, a pseudo-sick animal was confirmed in one farm today.

We will make every effort on preventive measures against this disease.
We would like cooperation to refrain strictly from coverage on the spot as there is a risk of causing the spread of this disease.

1. Outline of outbreak farm

Location: Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture
The feeding situation: 1,254

2. History

(1) Since Aichi Prefecture will carry out the cleanliness confirmation test of hog cholera at the pig farming farm in Tahara City in the same prefecture in the 23rd movement restricted area of ​​the country on Tuesday, June 11, the on-site visit by livestock epidemiologists We conducted an inspection.
(2) On the same day, suspicion of hog cholera arose from examination at the livestock health and hygiene center in 1 farm, so when a detailed examination was carried out, it is a suspected case of hog cholera today (Wednesday, June 12) It turned out.

3. Future response

Based on "specific livestock epidemic disease prevention policy about pig cholera", we will make sure about the following epidemic measures.

(1) We will promptly and properly implement necessary epidemic prevention measures such as killing and burning of pig breeding on the farm, and setting of movement restricted area.
(2) About farms in movement restricted area, we carry out outbreak situation check examination immediately.
(3) In order to prevent the spread of infection, we will strengthen disinfection around the outbreak farm and establish disinfection points on major roads.
(4) We dispatch a national epidemiological research team to investigate the infection route.
(5) We will make thorough early detection and early notification of this disease.
(6) We will strive to provide accurate information to producers, consumers, distributors, etc. as well as working closely with relevant government agencies.
(7) We will thoroughly provide guidance on compliance with the management standards for sanitation such as disinfection of farms and prevention of invasion of wildlife to farms.
(8) Investigate the route of infection and prevent spread, assume all possibilities for investigation.

In addition to the increase in farm outbreaks, we've seen a 25% increase in CSF-positive wild boar detections in Gifu Prefecture since the last OIE Summary (May 26th);  Jumping from 429 boar - to 534 - in a little over 2 weeks.

Numbers are highly dependent upon the intensity and frequency of surveillance - which may have escalated in recent weeks - but the detection of an additional 106 infected wild boar between May 23rd and June 6th suggests the virus has become well entrenched in Gifu Prefecture.  

This from the OIE's Classical swine fever, Japan, (Follow-up report No. 29) published on June 7th.

Summary of the wild boar surveillance

• As of 6th June, 1,303 wild boars (258 dead and 1,045 captured) in Gifu prefecture have been tested and 534 (192 dead and 342 captured) were found to be positive for CSF virus (CSFV) by RT-PCR since 13th September 2018. 
• 390 wild boars (18 dead and 372 captured) in Aichi prefecture have been tested and 19 were found to be positive (2 dead and 17 captured) for CSFV by RT-PCR since 14th September 2018. 
• Among the other prefectures, 332 wild boars (295 dead and 39 captured) in 41 prefectures were tested and all were found to be negative for CSFV by RT-PCR since 14th September 2018.  

Note: Vaccination in Japan is prohibited for domestic animals only. Since 24th March 2019, oral vaccine (bait vaccine) has been applied to wild boars in selected areas in Gifu and Aichi prefecture where CSF positive cases have been found in wild boars.