Japan detects bird flu in wild swans

[Sally Furniss]

Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans
28 Apr 2008 05:59:09 GMT
<!-- 28 Apr 2008 05:59:09 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove --> Source: Reuters



<!-- AN5.0 article title end --> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://www.alertnet.org/bin/js/article.js"></script> <input value="13" name="CurrentSize" id="CurrentSize" type="hidden"> <!-- Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans --> <!-- Reuters --> TOKYO, April 28 (Reuters) - Japan has detected a strain of bird flu in four wild swans after stepping up checks following major outbreaks of the disease in neighbouring South Korea, local and government officials said on Monday. The birds, three of which had died, were found on the shores of Lake Towada in Akita prefecture in the north on April 21, the prefectural government said in a news release. Inspectors detected the H5 strain of bird flu in the swans, the prefectural government said, but they were still checking whether it was the highly virulent H5N1 strain. Authorities have patrolled the area but have not found any incidents of large numbers of deaths or unnatural deaths in wild fowl.

There are no chicken farms within a 10 km radius of the area where the swans were found, and no unusual incidents were noted at other farms. "We've asked to step up surveillance measures at poultry farms in the prefectures of Aomori, Akita and Iwate," a farm ministry official said, referring to the prefectures in the area. "Japan has asked poultry farms to strengthen surveillance after the case in South Korea in early April," he said. The official said Japan's last case of bird flu was found in a wild bird in March 2007 in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Prior to that, Japan reported cases of bird flu at four poultry farms in January 2007. (Reporting by Chikafumi Hodo and Miho Yoshikawa; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/T342256.htm

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Japan Investigates Type Of Bird Flu In Wild Swans: Ministry



TOKYO (AFP)--Japan has detected bird flu in dead wild swans and is investigating whether the strain is the deadly H5N1 type, the farm ministry said Monday.

Japan last detected the virulent H5N1 strain in birds in March last year.

Three dead swans and another that was debilitated were found in Lake Towada in northern Akita prefecture, a ministry official said.

"An H5 strain of bird flu was detected from the birds and the authorities are now investigating if it is the poisonous H5N1 type," he said.

Japan reported four H5N1 outbreaks in January and February last year, leading authorities to kill tens of thousands of chickens as a precaution.

The H5N1 strain has killed more than 230 people worldwide since late 2003 through contact with infected birds, with about half of the cases in Indonesia.

Health experts fear the strain could mutate into a form easily transmitted from person to person, leading to a pandemic.


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

04-28-08 0217ET

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/N...ates Type Of Bird Flu In Wild Swans: Ministry

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...640078,131.967773&spn=13.327294,27.070312&z=5

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04280801/H5_Japan_Swans.html

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Bird flu virus found in 3 dead swans in Akita

Monday 28th April, 04:59 PM JST
AKITA ?
The avian influenza virus has been detected in three dead swans and one weakening one along Lake Towada in Kosaka, Akita Prefecture, the Akita prefectural government said Monday. The Akita government said it has asked the state to determine whether the virus belongs to the deadly H5N1 strain.

Local officials said they have yet to find a link between the virus and the deaths of the swans. The officials said they see a low possibility of the virus damaging human health as there have been no reports of many birds or animals dying in the northeastern Japan prefecture.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/bird-flu-virus-found-in-3-dead-swans-in-akita

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

<TABLE id=table4 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=Heading>Strain of bird flu found in swans in Japan

</TD></TR><TR><TD>

Agencies
Published: April 28, 2008, 11:11​

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=ArticleBody>

Tokyo: A strain of bird flu has been discovered in four wild swans in Japan, after checks were conducted following major outbreaks of the disease in South Korea, local and government officials said on Monday.

The birds were found near Lake Towada in the northern Akita region on April 21, a government news release said.

Three of the birds have since died.

The H5 strain of bird flu was detected in the swans, but authorities were still looking for the highly were still checking whether it was the dangerous H5N1 strain.

No other incidents have been found.

Surveillance measures have been reinforced since reports came in from South Korea in early April. ​

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://archive.gulfnews.com/world/Jamaica/10209133.html

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans <!-- END HEADLINE -->
<!-- BEGIN STORY BODY -->2 hours, 8 minutes ago


Japan has detected a strain of bird flu in four wild swans after stepping up checks following major outbreaks of the disease in neighboring South Korea, local and government officials said on Monday.
The birds, three of which had died, were found on the shores of Lake Towada in Akita prefecture in the north on April 21, the prefectural government said in a news release.
Inspectors detected the H5 strain of bird flu in the swans, the prefectural government said, but they were still checking whether it was the highly virulent H5N1 strain.
Authorities have patrolled the area but have not found any incidents of large numbers of deaths or unnatural deaths in wild fowl.
There are no chicken farms within a 10 km radius of the area where the swans were found, and no unusual incidents were noted at other farms.
"We've asked to step up surveillance measures at poultry farms in the prefectures of Aomori, Akita and Iwate," a farm ministry official said, referring to the prefectures in the area.
"Japan has asked poultry farms to strengthen surveillance after the case in South Korea in early April," he said.
The official said Japan's last case of bird flu was found in a wild bird in March 2007 in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu.
Prior to that, Japan reported cases of bird flu at four poultry farms in January 2007.
(Reporting by Chikafumi Hodo and Miho Yoshikawa; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080428...c&printer=1;_ylt=AkynOEaL31sHWkaOSCJcjNsiANEA

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Bird flu found in 3 dead swans in Akita

KOSAKA, Akita -- The avian flu virus was found in three dead swans that were recently found here near Lake Towada, it has been learned.
Officials have not yet determined whether the virus is the highly virulent H5N1 strain, which was found in a hawk eagle in Kumamoto Prefecture in 2007 and in crows in Kyoto and Osaka prefectures in 2004.
Prefectural officials said that two adult swans and one young swan, all dead, were found floating near the southern tip of the lake on April 21. Another weakened bird was also found nearby.
Simple tests indicated that the swans had been infected with the bird flu virus. Further testing on three of the birds by the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization's National Institute of Animal Health detected a subtype of the H5 virus.
While there are no chicken farms within a 10-kilometer radius, prefectural authorities will ask farms within the prefecture to step up measures to prevent wild birds from entering the facilities.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080428p2a00m0na034000c.html

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Japan confirms H5N1 bird flu strain in swans

Tue 29 Apr 2008, 7:30 GMT
TOKYO, April 29 (Reuters) - Japan on Tuesday confirmed four swans found last week were infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
It was the first case of bird flu in Japan since March 2007 when the highly virulent H5N1 strain was found in a wild bird in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern Kyushu island.
The swans, three of which had died, were found on the shores of Lake Towada in northern Akita prefecture on April 21, the prefectural government said.
Inspectors had initially detected the H5 subtype of bird flu in the dead swans and conducted further tests, the local government said on Monday.
Japan has been stepping up checks of birds after a series of bird flu outbreaks in South Korea over the past month.
There are no chicken farms within a 10 kilometre (6 mile) radius of the area where the swans were found, and no unusual incidents were noted at other farms.
Local authorities plan to conduct on-site inspections on Wednesday and Thursday at 15 farms within a radius of 30 km (19 miles) of the site where the swans were found, the official said.
Earlier on Tuesday, South Korea reported a suspected bird flu outbreak at a chicken farm in Ulsan City which, if confirmed, would be the first in the southeast, as the country grapples with its worst outbreak of avian influenza.
South Korea previously confirmed 20 cases of the H5N1 strain in poultry in less than a month, despite having killed more than 5 million chickens and ducks, as the virus spreads at its fastest rate since the country reported its first case in 2003.
No human deaths from the disease have been reported in South Korea or Japan. (Reporting by Teruaki Ueno; Editing by David Fogarty)

http://africa.reuters.com/commodities/news/usnT13632.html

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

<TABLE class=lan18 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="97%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=hei22 vAlign=bottom height=25>Japan confirms H5N1 bird flu in dead swans

</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff height=4></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="50%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="97%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="48%">www.chinaview.cn

2008-04-29 16:24:51</TD><TD class=hui12 align=middle width="26%"></TD><TD class=hui12 align=middle width="12%">

Print</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="80%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=20></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=lt14 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="97%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=lt14>



TOKYO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- A Japanese national institute of animal health confirmed Tuesday that the H5 strain of the bird flu virus detected in several dead and dying swans in northeastern Akita Prefecture last week belongs to the highly virulent H5N1 strain.
Upon receiving the result, the prefecture decided to carry out inspections in the following two days on about 42,000 birds at 15 farms within a radius of 30 kilometers around the location where the deadly virus was first detected, local government officials said.
The prefectural government also called on farmers to check their animals and birds for abnormal symptoms. No widespread deaths of birds or animals have been reported in the region. The prefecture said Monday it detected the H5 strain of the bird flu virus in several dead and dying last week. Three dead swans and one dying swan were found on Monday last week near Lake Towada, with the virus being detected in three of them. Another dead swan and two dying swans were later found on the shores of the lake from Wednesday to Saturday.


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="50%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=15></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=hei12 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="90%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=right height=25>Editor: Jiang Yuxia </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/29/content_8074363.htm

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Japan confirms H5N1 bird flu strain in swans
29 Apr 2008 08:30:23 GMT
Source: Reuters

TOKYO, April 29 (Reuters) -
Japan on Tuesday confirmed four swans found last week were infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

It was the first case of bird flu in Japan since March 2007 when the highly virulent H5N1 strain was found in a wild bird in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern Kyushu island.

The swans, three of which had died, were found on the shores of Lake Towada in northern Akita prefecture on April 21, the prefectural government said.

Inspectors had initially detected the H5 subtype of bird flu in the dead swans and conducted further tests, the local government said on Monday.

Japan has been stepping up checks of birds after a series of bird flu outbreaks in South Korea over the past month.

There are no chicken farms within a 10 kilometre (6 mile) radius of the area where the swans were found, and no unusual incidents were noted at other farms.

Local authorities plan to conduct on-site inspections on Wednesday and Thursday at 15 farms within a radius of 30 km (19 miles) of the site where the swans were found, the official said.

Earlier on Tuesday, South Korea reported a suspected bird flu outbreak at a chicken farm in Ulsan City which, if confirmed, would be the first in the southeast, as the country grapples with its worst outbreak of avian influenza.

South Korea previously confirmed 20 cases of the H5N1 strain in poultry in less than a month, despite having killed more than 5 million chickens and ducks, as the virus spreads at its fastest rate since the country reported its first case in 2003.

No human deaths from the disease have been reported in South Korea or Japan.

(Reporting by Teruaki Ueno; Editing by David Fogarty)
-
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/T13632.htm
------

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04290802/H5N1_Japan_Tell.html

 

[kent nickell]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

I haven't seen what species of swan these are but here is one migration route for Tundra Swans. The group that breeds in northeastern Russia winters in Japan, Korea and China. Because of their large size they probably act as a sentinel species and also are probably relatively easy to test... (This migration pattern also apparently occasionally veers into Alaska and the Pacific Northwest... http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/cyco/all.html)

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

I haven't seen what species of swan these are but here is one migration route for Tundra Swans. The group that breeds in northeastern Russia winters in Japan, Korea and China. Because of their large size they probably act as a sentinel species and also are probably relatively easy to test... (This migration pattern also apparently occasionally veers into Alaska and the Pacific Northwest... http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/cyco/all.html)

Speaking of migration, here is the path of tagged bar headed geese that migrate between Mongolia and South Korea (where H5N1 is detected) each year

http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sattrack/whooperswan/overall.html

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=NewsDetailsTitle>Japan confirms H5N1bird flu in wild swans </TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=NewsDetailsCategory>Health 4/29/2008 5:03:00 PM</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=ArticleDetails><TABLE class=ImageFloat cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=pictureCaption id=tdCaption align=middle width=180></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>TOKYO, April 29 (KUNA) -- Japanese health authorities confirmed Tuesday that four wild swans found near Lake Towada in the northern prefecture of Akita were infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza. It was Japan's first outbreak of bird flu since March last year when the virus was found in a hawk eagle in southwestern Japan.
According to the National Institute of Animal Health, inspectors initially detected the H5 subtype of bird flu in three of the four swans found along the lake on April 21. Three were dead and one was dying. The further study confirmed the virus was the H5N1 strain.
The Akita prefectural government plans to conduct on-site inspections on Wednesday and Thursday at 15 farms within a radius of 30 kilometers of the site where the dead swans were found.
South Korea announced earlier this month the outbreak of a virulent bird flu strain, but it is still unclear whether the virus found in Akita has come from South Korea. Bird flu, or Avian influenza, is a contagious disease of animal origin caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. At least 240 people worldwide have died from bird flu since 2003, according to the World Health Organization, but no human deaths have been reported in South Korea and Japan.(end) mk.bz.
KUNA 291703 Apr 08NNNN

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1903571&Language=en
</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=0></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Immediate notification report​

Report reference: , Ref OIE: 7003, Report Date: 29/04/2008 , Country: Japan​

Report Summary​

Disease​

​

​

Highly pathogenic avian influenza Animal type Terrestrial​

Causal Agent​

​

​

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype(s) H5N1​

Clinical Signs​

​

​

No Reason Reoccurrence of a listed disease​

Date of first confirmation of the event​

​

​

25/04/2008 Date of Start of Event 21/04/2008​

Date of report​

​

​

29/04/2008 Date Submitted To OIE 29/04/2008​

Diagnosis​

​

​

Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) Date Of Last Occurrence 2007​

Number Of Reported Outbreaks​

​

​

Submitted= 1, Draft= 0 Name of Sender of the report Dr Toshiro Kawashima​

Address​

​

​

International Animal Health Affairs Office
Animal Health Division
Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki
Chiyoda-ku

Tokyo 100-8950​

Position​

​

​

Director​

Telephone​

​

​

(81-3) 3502 0767​

Fax​

​

​

(81-3) 3502 3385​

Email​

​

​

animal_health@nm.maff.go.jp​

Entered by​

​

​

Mme Margarita Alonso​

Outbreak (this report - submitted)​

AKITA Unit Type Location Latitude Longitude Start End​

AKITA Not applicable Kosaka Town 40,1939 140,4549 21/04/2008​

Species Measuring units Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered​

Wild species Animals ... 4 4 0 0​

Affected Population​

​

​

Swans​

Outbreak summary: Total outbreaks = 1 (Submitted)​

Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered​

Wild species 4 4 0 0​

Epidemiology​

Epidemiological comments​

The swans, of which three had died and one was emaciated, were found on the shores of Lake Towada in Akita Prefecture in the north of the country on 21 April. Until 28 April, the authorities have been monitoring the area but they have not found any incident with a large number of deaths in
Printed on: Tue Apr 29 13:27:40 Paris, Madrid (heure d'?t?) 2008 Page 1/3
wild birds. There are no chicken farms within the 10-km-radius area where the swans were found and no unusual incidents were observed in other farms. Following the occurrence of this event, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan has asked the prefecture authorities of
Akita, Aomori and Iwate, which share the boundary of the shores of Lake Towada, to strengthen the monitoring of the farms in order to prevent the spread of the disease thorough early detection and to report the measures applied regarding abnormal chickens and the prevention of the entry of
wild birds into poultry houses. The prefecture authorities will visit the 15 chicken farms for emergency on-site inspections within a 30-km-radius area where the swans were found immediately. They will also monitor the wild birds around the area and cooperate with the Ministry of Environment
on the surveillance measures of wild birds.​

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection​

​

​

? Unknown or inconclusive​

Control Measures​

No Control Measures Animals treated​

​

​

No​

Vaccination Prohibited​

​

​

Yes​

Country / Zone​

Country or zone​

​

​

the whole country​

Diagnostic test results​

Laboratory Type Name of Laboratory Species Test Type Date Results Provided Result​

Local laboratory Akita Chuo Livestock Hygiene Service Center (prefectural organization) Wild species pathogen isolation by egg inoculation 25/04/2008 Positive
National laboratory National Institute of Animal Health Wild species intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) test 29/04/2008 Positive
National laboratory National Institute of Animal Health Wild species neuraminidase inhibition assay 29/04/2008 Positive​

Future Reporting​

What further reports will be submitted in relation to this event?​

There are 1outbreaks that are still recorded as unresolved. It is not possible to declare this event resolved until these individual outbreaks are resolved.
Immediate notification report. Report reference: , Ref OIE: 7003, Report Date: 29/04/2008 , Country: Japan​

Printed on: Tue Apr 29 13:28:18 Paris, Madrid (heure d'?t?) 2008 Page 2/3

http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/reports/en_imm_0000007003_20080429_132739.pdf

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04290802/H5N1_Japan_Tell.html

Commentary http://www.recombinomics.com/feed.xml http://www.newsnow.co.uk/nn/Recombinomics

Don't Ask Don't Tell H5N1 Surveillance in Japan

Recombinomics Commentary 10:24
April 29, 2008

A Japanese national institute of animal health confirmed Tuesday that the H5 strain of the bird flu virus detected in several dead and dying swans in northeastern Akita Prefecture last week belongs to the highly virulent H5N1 strain.

Three dead swans and one dying swan were found on Monday last week near Lake Towada, with the virus being detected in three of them. Another dead swan and two dying swans were later found on the shores of the lake from Wednesday to Saturday.

The above comments confirm H5N1 in dead or dying swans in Japan. The confirmation was not a surprise (see satellite map). In three of the last five seasons South Korea has reported H5N1 on farms and each season H5N1 was subsequently found in Japan. In 2003/2004 the sequences were closely related. Japan hasn?t released sequences from last season, but the sequences will almost certainly be closely related to the sequences from South Korea, which were the Uvs Lake strain of H5N1. It is likely that H5N1 this season will also be closely related to the Uvs Lake strain.

However, this season the H5N1 was detected as wild birds migrate out of South Korea and Japan, instead of the fall / winter when birds are arriving. The detection delay this season raises surveillance issues in both countries. In Japan the H5N1 was detected in the absence of a reported outbreak in domestic poultry. The increased surveillance was in response to the record breaking outbreaks in South Korea. Thus, H5N1 can be circulating undetected when surveillance is at the ?normal? level, but is easily detected when surveillance is ?enhanced?.

This ?don?t ask don?t tell? approach to H5N1 surveillance is widespread. England found H5N1 in wild birds (swans and a Canada goose) when surveillance was ?enhanced?, and Switzerland found H5N1 in a asymptomatic pochard in an area of enhanced surveillance.

These examples of H5N1 in wild bird populations in regions where there are no reported outbreaks in domestic poultry provide more evidence for widespread H5N1 in wild bird populations that are only detected under ?enhanced surveillance?, which is usually not present, even in countries such as England and Japan. Other countries rely on conservation groups which use collection and testing procedures that are known to produce an over abundance of false negatives.

The latest data in Japan demonstrate that surveillance that is not enhanced is well into the abysmal category, where it has been for many years.


.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Japan confirms H5N1 bird flu strain in swans

Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:22pm IST
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan on Tuesday confirmed four swans found last week were infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
It was the first case of bird flu in Japan since March 2007 when the highly virulent H5N1 strain was found in a wild bird in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern Kyushu island.
The swans, three of which had died, were found on the shores of Lake Towada in northern Akita prefecture on April 21, the prefectural government said.
Inspectors had initially detected the H5 subtype of bird flu in the dead swans and conducted further tests, the local government said on Monday.
Japan has been stepping up checks of birds after a series of bird flu outbreaks in South Korea over the past month.
There are no chicken farms within a 10 kilometer (6 mile) radius of the area where the swans were found, and no unusual incidents were noted at other farms.
Local authorities plan to conduct on-site inspections on Wednesday and Thursday at 15 farms within a radius of 30 km (19 miles) of the site where the swans were found, the official said.
Earlier on Tuesday, South Korea reported a suspected bird flu outbreak at a chicken farm in Ulsan City which, if confirmed, would be the first in the southeast, as the country grapples with its worst outbreak of avian influenza.
South Korea previously confirmed 20 cases of the H5N1 strain in poultry in less than a month, despite having killed more than 5 million chickens and ducks, as the virus spreads at its fastest rate since the country reported its first case in 2003.
No human deaths from the disease have been reported in South Korea or Japan.
(Reporting by Teruaki Ueno; Editing by David Fogarty)

http://in.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idINT34225620080429

 

[HenryN]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

AVIAN INFLUENZA (66): JAPAN, SWAN, DENMARK, LPAI H7, OIE
********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

In this update:
[1] Japan: swan
[2] Denmark: LPAI H7

******
[1] Japan: swan
Date: Tue 29 Apr 2008
Source: OIE WAHID (World Animal Health Information Database) weekly
disease information 2008; 21(18) [edited]
<http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=weekly_report_index&admin=0>


Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Japan
----------------------------------------
Information received on (and dated) 29 Apr 2008 from Dr Toshiro
Kawashima, director, International Animal Health Affairs Office,
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo, Japan

Summary
Report type: immediate notification
Start date: 21 Apr 2008
Date of 1st confirmation of event: 25 Apr 2008
Report date: 29 Apr 2008
Date submitted to OIE: 29 Apr 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

New outbreaks
Summary of outbreaks
Outbreak 1: Kosaka Town, Akita
Date of start of the outbreak: 21 Apr 2008
Outbreak status: continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: not applicable
Species: wild species
Susceptible: --
Cases: 4
Deaths: 4
Destroyed: 0
Slaughtered: 0
Affected population: swans

Outbreak statistics
Species: wild species
Apparent morbidity rate: **
Apparent mortality rate: **
Apparent case fatality rate: 100 percent
Proportion susceptible animals lost*: **
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction,
and/or slaughter
** Total contains unknown quantity

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments: the swans, of which 3 had died and one was
emaciated, were found on the shores of Lake Towada in Akita
Prefecture in the north of the country on 21 Apr 2008. Until 28 Apr
2008, the authorities have been monitoring the area but they have not
found any incident with a large number of deaths in wild birds. There
are no chicken farms within the 10-km (6.2 mi)-radius area where the
swans were found and no unusual incidents were observed in other
farms. Following the occurrence of this event, the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan has asked the prefecture
authorities of Akita, Aomori, and Iwate, which share the boundary of
the shores of Lake Towada, to strengthen the monitoring of the farms
in order to prevent the spread of the disease through early detection
and to report the measures applied regarding abnormal chickens, and
the prevention of the entry of wild birds into poultry houses. The
prefecture authorities will visit immediately the 15 chicken farms
for emergency on-site inspections within a 30-km (18.6 mi)-radius
area where the swans were found. They will also monitor the wild
birds around the area and cooperate with the Ministry of Environment
on the surveillance measures of wild birds.

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: Akita Chuo Livestock Hygiene Service Center
(prefectural organization) (local laboratory)
Species: wild species
Test: pathogen isolation by egg inoculation
Test date: 25 Apr 2008
Result: positive

Laboratory name and type: National Institute of Animal Health
(national laboratory)
Species: wild species
Test: intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI)
Test date: 29 Apr 2008
Result: positive

Species: wild species
Test: neuraminidase inhibition assay
Test date: 29 Apr 2008
Result: positive

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Akita Prefecture is a popular tourist destination in Japan, located
in the farthest northern reaches of Honshu, which is the largest
island. Lake Towada is a caldera (crater) lake, and is about 450 km
(280 mi) from Tokyo. This location, is far removed from Korea and in
a remote rural part of Japan.

Migration patterns for North American swans, which can be accessed at
<http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/migratio/patterns.htm>,
indicate movement of swans occurs over great distances. Within a
week, hundreds of miles can be covered -- see Bird Studies Canada
data at <http://www.bsc-eoc.org/lpbo/swans/20180.html>.

Given the above, it would be very useful to compare genetic analysis
of the H5N1 isolates from Japan and Korea, although movement from
Korea to Japan doesn't appear to be a major migratory pathway for swans.

References
----------
1. Pierre JP, Huguchi H: Satellite tracking in avian conservation:
applications and results from Asia. Mem. Natl Inst. Polar Res., Spec.
Issue, 58, 101-9, 2004
(<http://www.nipr.ac.jp/~penguin/oogataHP/pdfarticles/10p101-109.pdf>).
2. Olsen B et al: Global Patterns of Influenza A Virus in Wild Birds.
Science 2006; 312(5772): 384-8. DOI: 10.1126/science.1122438
(<http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/312/5772/384>).

For a map of the location of Towada Lake, see the OIE report
referenced above or
<http://www.docoja.com:8080/jisho/mainmap?dbname=geog&mainword=Lake_Towada>
- Mod.PC]

******
[2] Denmark: LPAI H7
Date: Tue 29 Apr 2008
Source: OIE WAHID (World Animal Health Information Database) weekly
disease information 2008; 21(18) [edited]
<http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=weekly_report_index&admin=0>


Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), Denmark
-------------------------------------------------
Information received on (and dated) 29 Apr 2008 from Mr Torben
Grubbe, MSc, Animal Health Division, Ministry of Food, Agriculture
and Fisheries Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Soeborg, Denmark

Summary
Report type: immediate notification
Start date: 24 Apr 2008
Date of 1st confirmation of event: 28 Apr 2008
Report date: 29 April 2008
Date submitted to OIE: 29 Apr 2008
Reason for notification: reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence: 19 Jul 2006
Causal agent: low pathogenic avian influenza virus (serotype H7)
Serotype: pending
Nature of diagnosis: laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country

New outbreaks
Summary of outbreaks
Outbreak 1 Stenstrup, Svendborg Kommune, South
Date of start of the outbreak: 24 Apr 2008
Outbreak status: continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: farm
Affected animals
Species: birds
Susceptible: 2050
Cases: --
Deaths: 0
Destroyed: 2050
Slaughtered: 0
Affected population: a poultry farm with 300 geese, 250 ducks, and
1500 mallards.

Outbreak statistics
Species: birds
Apparent morbidity rate: **
Apparent mortality rate: 0 percent
Apparent case fatality rate: **
Proportion susceptible animals lost*: 100 percent
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction,
and/or slaughter
** Total contains unknown quantity

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive.

Epidemiological comments: geese and ducks were tested in accordance
with the Danish surveillance programme for avian influenza in
poultry. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has set up a
restricted zone around the holding and is implementing the necessary
measures in accordance with the European Union Directive 2005/94/EC.

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type: National Veterinary Institute (national laboratory)
Species: birds
Test: virus sequencing
Test date: 28 Apr 2008
Result: positive

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[A map of the outbreak location can be accessed via the OIE report
referenced above or at
<http://www.fallingrain.com/world/DA/12/Stenstrup.html>. - Mod.PC]

[see also:
Avian influenza (65): Japan, swan, Denmark, LPAI, H7 20080429.1479
2007
----
Avian influenza (55): Nigeria, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Japan, Thailand 20070320.0986
Avian influenza (31): Pakistan, S. Korea, Turkey, Russia, Japan 20070211.0523
Avian influenza (25): Japan, Viet Nam, UK 20070203.0437
Avian influenza (20): Hungary, Japan 20070130.0389
Avian influenza (18): Japan (Okayama) 20070129.0376
Avian influenza (17): Indonesia (feline), Japan, Hungary 20070126.0347
Avian influenza (13): Japan H5N1, Viet Nam, Indonesia 20070120.0260
Avian influenza (12): Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, OIE 20070118.0237
Avian influenza (08): Japan (Miyazaki), H5 20070114.0184
Avian influenza (07): Japan, susp. 20070113.0177
Avian influenza (05): Japan, susp. 20070112.0157
2006
----
Avian influenza - Eurasia (22): Japan (Ibaraki), H5N2 20060116.0156
Avian influenza H5N2, human - Japan (Ibaraki)(04) 20060112.0111
Avian influenza H5N2, human - Japan (Ibaraki) (03) 20060111.0098
Avian influenza (152) - Denmark, H5, LPAI 20060707.1863
Avian influenza (132) - Denmark, H5N3: OIE, correction 20060623.1740
Avian influenza (137) - Denmark 20060616.1675
Avian influenza (132) - Denmark, H5N3: OIE 20060606.1572
Avian influenza (119) - Denmark, poultry, OIE 20060520.1417
Avian influenza (116) - Denmark (poultry) 20060518.1400
Avian influenza - worldwide (108): Denmark, Germany 20060510.1341
Avian influenza - worldwide (86): Germany, Denmark, Indonesia 20060412.1085
2005
----
Avian influenza - Eurasia (106): Denmark, wild birds, surveillance
20051221.3650]
...................................pc/mj/mpp

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Re: Japan detects bird flu in four wild swans

Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080501TDY02305.htm

Govts act to contain bird flu / All Akita Pref. chicken farms inspected to counter outbreak

The Yomiuri Shimbun

AKITA--Following the confirmation that the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza was detected in dead and dying swans near Lake Towada in Akita Prefecture, local governments and residents have been working to prevent the infection from spreading.

Three dead ohakucho swans, or whooper swans, and a dying swan were found in an area with a 500-meter radius south of the lake on April 21.

The Akita prefectural government is especially concerned that the deadly bird flu virus outbreak may affect sales of Hinai-jidori chicken, a nationally known delicacy, and other local products.

The Akita prefectural government started inspecting 15 poultry houses belonging to 14 chicken farmers and one egg collector within a 30-kilometer radius of the lake, which includes Odate, Kazuno and Kosakamachi in the prefecture, on Wednesday and Thursday.

Officials are checking whether the poultry houses have taken measures to prevent possible bird flu infection. The moves include setting up guard nets to prevent wild birds from entering the facilities and tanks containing disinfectant to sterilize shoes at farm entrances.

The prefectural government also is providing health consultation services to the public during the Golden Week holidays, while local health care centers are fielding public inquiries related to the discovery of dead birds.

In Aomori Prefecture, where many chicken farmers operate, the prefectural government on Monday started inspecting 39 poultry farmers located within a 30-kilometer radius of the lake.

However, following Tuesday's confirmation that the virus was the deadly H5N1 strain, inspections were expanded to include all 163 chicken farms in the prefecture.

Hotels near the lake are worried about the spread of incorrect information that may harm their business.

An official of the Kosakamachi municipal government's industries division said, "We'll make a flyer to tell people that they don't have to be worried about getting infected with the virus, and distribute it in the town."

According to the Akita prefectural government and others, most of the about 300 swans that spent the winter at the lake have already departed the area, flying back on their northbound migratory route in mid-April.

The prefectural government believes the infected swans passed the winter in an area south of the lake, stopping there while en route to Siberia.

Prof. Koichi Otsuki, who heads Kyoto Sangyo University's Avian Influenza Research Center, said, "It's possible that the birds were infected with the virus through droppings and saliva attached to feed in areas to the south of Lake Towada."

Meanwhile, inspectors from the Environment Ministry's natural conservation office for Lake Towada on Wednesday examined whether the H5N1 virus has spread to wild birds in the area. The inspection has been conducted daily since the infected birds were discovered.

According to the World Health Organization, as of April 17, 381 people in 14 countries have been infected with H5N1 since 2003. Of them, 240 have died.

However, experts believe the Akita Prefecture outbreak poses little immediate threat to humans.
(May. 1, 2008)