#15,592
After going nearly 3 years without a farm outbreak of HPAI H5, Japan is reporting their 11th farm outbreak - spread across 4 Prefectures (Kagawa, Hyogo, Fukuoka, and Mizyazaki) - since November 1st.
Additionally wild birds and environmental samples have tested positive in at least other Prefectures (see map above).
First this report from Japan's Ministry of Environment, then I'll have more on the local response.
December 1, 2nd year of Reiwa
Confirmation of pseudo-patients with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Miyazaki Prefecture (11th domestic poultry case)
On December 1, 2nd year of Reiwa, it was reported that a pseudo-patient with highly pathogenic avian influenza, which was the 11th case in domestic poultry, was confirmed at a meat chicken farm in Hyuga City, Miyazaki 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 30 (Monday)
・ Miyazaki Prefecture received a report that the number of dead chickens had increased, requested the farm to refrain from moving, and conducted an on-site inspection of the farm.
・ A simple influenza test was conducted on the chicken and the result was positive.
December 1st (Tuesday)
・ 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.
Today's announced outbreak comes from one of the largest poultry producing regions in the country, and the Miyazaki Prefecture website has published no fewer than 8 updates in the past 24 hours on the detection and response.
Including this latest report of a suspected second outbreak (PCR tests pending).
About the outbreak of suspected highly pathogenic avian influenza in Tsuno Town (1st report)
Today, a case of suspected livestock infectious disease "highly pathogenic avian influenza" was confirmed at a meat chicken farm in Tsuno Town.
At the moment, only a simple test confirms positive influenza A, which does not mean that it has been confirmed as "highly pathogenic avian influenza", and it may be diagnosed as negative by the current PCR test.
In case the test result is positive, the prefecture has set up a local countermeasures headquarters in the Takanabe General Government Building, and also set up a countermeasures headquarters in Tsuno Town, and has established an epidemic prevention system.
In addition, from 19:30 today, the "3rd Miyazaki Prefecture Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Epidemic Prevention Headquarters Meeting" will be held in the main building auditorium.
Tsuno Town is a coastal city located roughly 23 km south of the confirmed outbreak in Hyuga City.
According to a Japan Reuter's/Kyodo News report, surveillance has been heightened prefecture-wide, and 925 poultry farms with > 100 birds have been ordered to disinfect their premises using slaked lime.
After three years of relatively low activity, HPAI H5 continues to rise in both Asia and much of Europe (see DEFRA: Updated European HPAI Outbreak Assessment #6 & African Union (AU) Notification).
Most of this increased global activity is due to HPAI H5N8's 2.3.4.4 B clade, which while highly pathogenic in poultry and wild birds, to date has never been shown to infect humans.
While the risk of human infection is considered very low, viruses can change, so the risk is not zero.
Which is why South Korea - which is dealing with their own incursion of HPAI H5 - has today issued the following (translated) guidelines for detecting, and hopefully preventing, human infections.
Posted on 2020-12-01 Last Modified Date 2020-12-01 Department of swine infectious diseases and response Contact 043-719-91013,200
◇ Dispatch of the KCDC field dispatch team to the killing site (28 days ), continuing measures to prevent human infection
◇ Observe human infection prevention rules and report to the health authorities immediately when suspected symptoms occur
- the general public's livestock farmers , migratory birds visit doraeji restraint , wash hands thoroughly personal hygiene, etc.
- AI occurs at high risk farmers will wear personal protective equipment , antiviral doses and vaccinated thoroughly
□ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Director Eun-kyung Jeong) responded to the prevention of AI* human infection in central and local governments as the H5N8 type highly pathogenic AI (bird influenza) occurred in poultry farms in Jeongeup City, Jeollabuk-do, and raised the crisis stage to'severe'. Said to strengthen.
* AI (Avian Influenza): A virus that infects poultry such as wild birds, chickens, ducks, and does not generally infect humans, but intermittently occurs in humans beyond the interspecies barrier (domestic avian influenza No cases of human infection)
□ The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immediately dispatched an on-site dispatch team (November 28, 20) to take measures to prevent AI human infection on farms where killing was carried out.
○ The field dispatch team supported the activities of the AI human infection countermeasure group in Jeongeup City, such as providing antiviral drugs and personal protective equipment to high-risk groups such as farm workers, killing participants and response personnel, vaccination against seasonal influenza (for unvaccinated persons), and training on personal hygiene rules.
○ In addition, if any respiratory symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, cough, etc. occur within 10 days after participation in killing-related work, we requested that people report immediately to the public health center, while actively monitoring and reporting AI human-infected patients to medical institutions .
□ The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established the'Central AI Human Infection Countermeasure Headquarters' as highly pathogenic AI has occurred in wild birds since last October, and has operated a 24-hour working system through a comprehensive situation room (EOC).
○ It was revealed that it maintains a hotline with related organizations such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Wild Animal Disease Management Service.
○ In addition, local governments were asked to check the status of stockpiling of antiviral drugs and personal protective equipment, and request additional if necessary, and prepare the National Institute of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Response so that patients with AI human infection can be immediately tested.
-When confirmed, local governments and medical institutions were asked to maintain a treatment system so that they could be admitted to a nationally designated hospital bed*.
* Number of negative pressure isolation beds as of November 20: 198 beds in 29 medical institutions nationwide are in operation
□ The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the importance of active cooperation among the people in order to prevent AI infection.
○ The general public was advised to refrain from visiting livestock farms or migratory birds, and to thoroughly personal hygiene, such as washing hands for at least 30 seconds.
○ High-risk groups, such as AI-occurring farmers and participants in killing work, pay close attention to wearing personal protective equipment and personal hygiene, vaccination against seasonal influenza, and thoroughly taking antiviral drugs for a set period*.
* 7 days from the last exposure date
-If fever, cough, and sore throat occur within 10 days after participating in the work, they were asked to report immediately to the public health center or 1339 (24-hour call center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
□ The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyung said about the H5N8 type AI, “The general public has a very low possibility of human infection due to the low possibility of contact with wild birds or AI-producing farms.
○ High-risk groups who have had direct contact with AI poultry have the potential for sporadic human infection, so we will do our best to prevent AI human infection by working closely with livestock quarantine authorities and local governments.”
