Another H5N8 bird flu case prompting massive chicken cull in Okayama, Japan - OIE

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/201.../#.VLhASidpehc


Another bird flu case prompting massive chicken cull in Japan
Kyodo
Jan 16, 2015

OKAYAMA ? The Okayama Prefectural Government said Thursday that it has confirmed the presence of a pathogenic H5 strain of bird flu virus at a chicken farm in the prefecture, the fourth case of avian influenza detected at a poultry operation in Japan this winter.

Local government officials have requested the Self-Defense Forces to dispatch troops to help cull roughly 200,000 birds at the farm in Kasaoka, an operation they plan to begin on Friday and estimate will take four days to complete.

The previous three cases this winter have resulted in the killing of thousands of chickens, ranging from 4,000 to 42,000 per instance...

[Gert van der Hoek]

Japan Guide

Massive chicken cull begins after bird flu confirmed

OKAYAMA, Japan, Jan. 16, Kyodo

Public health workers began a cull of roughly 200,000 chickens Friday morning at a farm in Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, following confirmation that some had been infected with a highly pathogenic H5 strain of bird flu virus.

According to the prefectural government, the cull is expected to take four days, with roughly 50,000 birds killed each day. The dead birds will be incinerated in the operation that also involves Self-Defense Forces personnel and local government staff.

The prefectural government has imposed a ban on the movement of chickens and eggs at six farms within a 3-kilometer radius of the farm in Kasaoka, and 15 other farms in a 10-km radius have been ordered not to ship their products.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Japan

Information received on 16/01/2015 from Dr Toshiro Kawashima, CVO, Animal Health Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo , Japan

Summary Report type Follow-up report No. 10 Date of start of the event 03/11/2014 Date of pre-confirmation of the event 13/11/2014 Report date 16/01/2015 Date submitted to OIE 16/01/2015 Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence 16/04/2014 Manifestation of disease Clinical disease Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N8 Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to the whole country Related reports Immediate notification (13/11/2014) Follow-up report No. 1 (21/11/2014) Follow-up report No. 2 (25/11/2014) Follow-up report No. 3 (04/12/2014) Follow-up report No. 4 (16/12/2014) Follow-up report No. 5 (19/12/2014) Follow-up report No. 6 (26/12/2014) Follow-up report No. 7 (29/12/2014) Follow-up report No. 8 (30/12/2014) Follow-up report No. 9 (09/01/2015) Follow-up report No. 10 (16/01/2015)

New outbreaks (1)

Outbreak 1 Kasaoka-shi, OKAYAMA Date of start of the outbreak 15/01/2015 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Farm Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 200015 15 15 200000 0 Affected population Poultry (layer)

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 200015 15 15 200000 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Birds 0.01% 0.01% 100.00% 100.00% *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

Epidemiology Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive Epidemiological comments On 15 January 2015, the local veterinary service in Okayama prefecture received a notification from a layer farm on an increase in the number of dead birds. The samples were sent to the laboratory of the local veterinary service centre (Okayama Livestock Hygiene Centre). The samples from dead birds were influenza A virus positive by antigen-capture kits. On the same day, the centre started RT-PCR test and confirmed that the subtype was H5. Stamping-out policy is applied to the affected farm. Destruction of all the susceptible birds in the affected farm (approx. 200,000 birds) is ongoing. Movement restrictions are imposed on the farms within the radius of 3km of the affected farm. Shipment restrictions are imposed on the farms within the radius of 3-10km of the affected farm. The pathogenicity and the NA subtype have not yet been identified and are going to be determined by the National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH). Follow-up information on the second outbreak in poultry in Miyazaki reported in the follow-up report No. 7: On 13 January 2015, shipment restriction (3-10km radius around the affected farm) was lifted since the second confirmation test of the farms within the movement restriction zone proved freedom from avian influenza virus. The confirmation test used clinical inspection, serum antibody test and virus isolation and obtained negative results in all the tests. Follow-up information on the outbreak in poultry in Yamaguchi reported in the follow-up report No.8: On 16 January 2015, shipment restriction (3-10km radius around the affected farm) was lifted since the second confirmation test of the farms within the movement restriction zone proved freedom from avian influenza virus. The confirmation test used clinical inspection, serum antibody test and virus isolation and obtained negative results in all the tests.

Control measures Measures applied Control of wildlife reservoirs Stamping out Quarantine Movement control inside the country Screening Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s) Vaccination prohibited No treatment of affected animals Measures to be applied No other measures

Diagnostic test results Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result Okayama Livestock Hygiene Centre (Local laboratory) Birds reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 15/01/2015 Positive

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

Map of outbreak locations