DAYS OF THE COMET - AI : HPAI H5N1 IN JAPAN, OIE UPDATE (2631)

[In this post: (1) HPAI H5N1 in Japan, OIE Follow-up Report no. 1. See original texts at the source site. EDITED.]

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(1) [AVIAN INFLUENZA, WILD BIRDS, JAPAN, OIE, UPDATES] Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Japan

Information received on 09/05/2008 from Dr Toshiro Kawashima, Director, International Animal Health Affairs Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo , Japan

§ Summary

Report type Follow-up report No. 1
Start date 21/04/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 25/04/2008
Report date 09/05/2008
Date submitted to OIE 09/05/2008
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 2007
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N1
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country
Related reports Immediate notification (29/04/2008)
Follow-up report No. 1 (09/05/2008)

§ New outbreaks

* Outbreak 1 - Betsukai town, HOKKAIDO
Date of start of the outbreak 24/04/2008
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Not applicable
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
* Wild species - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0
Affected population swan
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
* Wild species - ** - ** - 100.00% **

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
** not_calc_miss_info

§ Epidemiology

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive

§ Epidemiological comments

Outbreak in Akita
The prefecture authorities visited the 15 chicken farms for emergency on-site inspections within a 30-km-radius area where the swans were found. As of 9 May, emergency disinfection of the chicken farms was carried out and is ongoing in the whole area of each prefecture (Akita, Aomori, Iwate). They are also monitoring the wild birds around the area and cooperate with the Ministry of Environment on the surveillance measures of wild birds. Until 9 May, no unusual incidents have been reported in the Akita, Aomori and Iwate prefectures.

Outbreak in Hokkaido
The Hokkaido University (OIE Reference Laboratory) has confirmed a case of HPAI H5N1 in a dead swan at the Nozuke peninsula on the Betsukai town. The authorities inspected for emergency on-site inspections five chicken farms within a 30-Km-radius of the spot where the dead swan was found on 24 April. Emergency disinfection of the chicken farms finished in the area on 7 May. Until 9 May, No unusual incidents have been observed.

§ Control measures

Measures applied Vaccination prohibited
No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied No other measures

§ Diagnostic test results

Laboratory name and type Hokkaido University (OIE’s Reference Laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
* Wild species - intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) test - 05/05/2008 - Positive
Laboratory name and type Hokkaido University (OIE’s Reference Laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
* Wild species - neuraminidase inhibition assay - 05/05/2008 - Positive
* Wild species - pathogen isolation by egg inoculation - 05/05/2008 - Positive

§ Future Reporting

The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

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