New Japan bird flu outbreak brings fresh cull of chickens - 6 farms affected in 4 prefectures

[Gert van der Hoek]

Wed Dec 21, 2016 |

A virulent strain of airborne bird flu extended its shadow across northeast Asia as Japan launched a new chicken cull on a southern island, days after gassing hundreds of thousands of birds some 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) to the north.

Tackling Japan's sixth outbreak since end-November, Kyushu authorities said they will gas just over 120,000 chickens after the H5 virus was detected on a farm. The island lies close to South Korea, which has ordered a record cull of 20 million birds since first reporting the H5N6 virus just over a month ago.

The outbreak in Japan's Miyazaki prefecture follows the gassing of more than 200,000 chickens at a farm in the northern island of Hokkaido last weekend and brings the country's cull this season to nearly a million chickens and ducks.

The cases in Japan - outbreaks before Miyazaki were all confirmed as H5N6 bird flu - are the first in nearly two years, with the bird cull now standing at its highest in six years.

[Gert van der Hoek]

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the epidemic spread to the southern region of Miyazaki (southwest), after several outbreaks first detected on farms in Niigata (northwest) and then in Hokkaido and Aomori (north).

The total number of birds slaughtered by a government decision now stands at 972,700 on six farms dispersed in the four prefectures mentioned.
There were also 70 death
s of wild birds carrying the same H5N6 virus in a total of 13 prefectures, according to the ministry.

[Pathfinder]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Japan

Information received on 21/12/2016 from Dr Kazuo Ito, Director, International Animal Health Affairs Office, Animal Health Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo, Japan

Summary Report type Follow-up report No. 2 Date of start of the event 28/11/2016 Date of confirmation of the event 28/11/2016 Report date 19/12/2016 Date submitted to OIE 21/12/2016 Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence 17/02/2015 Manifestation of disease Clinical disease Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N6 Nature of diagnosis Clinical, Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to the whole country Related reports Immediate notification (29/11/2016) Follow-up report No. 1 (05/12/2016) Follow-up report No. 2 (19/12/2016)

New outbreaks (2)

Outbreak 1 Shimizu-cho, HOKKAIDO Date of start of the outbreak 16/12/2016 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Farm Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 283982 30 30 283952 0 Affected population Poultry (layers)

Outbreak 2 Kawaminami-cho, MIYAZAKI Date of start of the outbreak 19/12/2016 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Farm Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 122000 100 100 121900 0 Affected population poultry (broilers)

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 2 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered Birds 405982 130 130 405852 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Birds 0.03% 0.03% 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 Outbreak 2 (Niigata, Sekikawa-mura) ?follow up information of the previous reports. On 20 December 2016 shipment restrictions were lifted as there were not any positive results of the tests conducted after control measures had been completed. Outbreak 1 (Aomori), Outbreak 3 (Niigata, Joetsu-shi) and Outbreak 4 (Aomori, 2nd case) ?follow up information of the previous report: On 21 December 2016 shipment restrictions were lifted as there were not any positive results of the tests conducted after control measures had been completed. Outbreak 5 (Hokkaido, Shimizu-cho) ?this report On 16 November 2016, the local veterinary service centre in Hokkaido Prefecture received a notification from a domestic hens farm on increase the numbers of dead birds (30 birds on the day). The samples from dead birds were confirmed to be influenza A virus positive by antigen-capture kits and to be subtype H5 by RT-PCR in Tokachi Livestock Hygiene Service Centre. The N-type was identified as N6 by NIAH on 20 November 2016. Destruction of all the susceptible birds in the affected farm has been completed. Movement and shipment restrictions are imposed on the farms within a radius of 3km and within a radius of 3-10km of the affected farm, respectively. Outbreak 6 (Miyazaki, Kawaminami-cho) -this report: On 19 November 2016, the local veterinary service centre in Miyazaki Prefecture received a notification from a domestic broilerss farm on increase the numbers of dead birds (100 birds on the day). The samples from dead birds were confirmed to be influenza A virus positive by antigen-capture kits and to be subtype H5 by RT-PCR in Miyazaki Livestock Hygiene Service Centre. Destruction of all the susceptible birds in the affected farm has been completed. Movement and shipment restrictions are imposed on the farms within a radius of 3km and within a radius of 3-10km of the affected farm, respectively.

Control measures Measures applied Movement control inside the country Screening Disinfection / Disinfestation Quarantine Stamping out 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 Miyazaki Livestock Hygiene Service Centre (Local laboratory) Birds reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 19/12/2016 Positive Miyazaki Livestock Hygiene Service Centre (Local laboratory) Birds rapid tests 19/12/2016 Positive Tokachi Livestock Hygiene Service Centre (Local laboratory) Birds rapid tests 16/12/2016 Positive Tokachi Livestock Hygiene Service Centre (Local laboratory) Birds reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 16/12/2016 Positive the National Institute of Animal Health (National laboratory) Birds gene sequencing 20/12/2016 Positive

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

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http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Reviewreport/Review?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=21977