#15,572
While Europe's recent uptick in avian flu activity has garnered most of our attention, East Asia (Japan, and to a lesser extent South Korea) continues to report the biggest incursion of HPAI H5 since 2017 (see last Friday's Japan: 2 More HPAI H5 Outbreaks In Poultry (Kagawa) & Environmental Detection in Kagoshima).
Today Japan's Ministry of Environment announced their 6th and 7th poultry outbreak of HPAI (presumably H5N8), in two farms in Kagawa Prefecture. HPAI H5N8 has now been confirmed in both dead birds and environmental samples in Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture.
Translated details on the latest outbreaks are published today by Japan's MOE.
Confirmation of pseudo-patients with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kagawa Prefecture (6th and 7th cases of poultry in Japan)
On November 20, 2nd year of Reiwa, it was reported that the 6th and 7th cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza were confirmed in the poultry farm in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture. In response to this report, we will strengthen the monitoring of wild birds by designating the area within a radius of 10 km around the outbreak farm as a priority area for wild bird monitoring.
1. 1. Background
11 May 19 (Thursday)
・ Kagawa Prefecture received a report that the number of dead chickens increased, and within a radius of 3 km from the farms concerned (this year, the first, third, fourth, and fifth domestic farms that occurred in Kagawa Prefecture). On-site inspection is carried out.・ On the same day, a simple influenza test was conducted on the chicken and the result was positive.
11 May 20 (Fri.)
・ As a result of genetic testing of the chicken, it was confirmed that it was a H5 subtype and was a pseudo-patient with highly pathogenic avian influenza.
2. 2. Correspondence
(1) 11 January around the radius of the generating farm in 20 days 10km the distance specified in the wild bird monitoring priority areas, will strengthen the wild bird monitoring.(2) No abnormalities such as mass death of wild birds were confirmed in the emergency investigation accompanying the occurrence of the 1st to 4th cases of domestic poultry in Kagawa prefecture.(3) According to the "Technical Manual for Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds" ( published at http://www.env.go.jp/nature/dobutsu/bird_flu/manual/pref_0809.html ) We will take measures such as strengthening monitoring.(4) The nationwide response level for wild bird surveillance has been raised to the highest level, "response level 3" , as of November 5, and we will continue to strengthen monitoring of wild birds nationwide.
3. 3. Points to note
(1) Avian influenza virus is not normally considered to infect humans except in special cases such as close contact with infected birds. In daily life, if you wash your hands and gargle after touching bird excrement, you do not need to worry excessively, so please be calm.(2) We ask that not only the surrounding area but also the people of Japan pay sufficient attention to "how to interact with wild birds".
