OIE: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8), Japan

Information received on 06/11/2020 from Dr Norio Kumagai, Director, Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo, Japan
Summary
Report type Immediate notification
Date of start of the event 04/11/2020
Date of confirmation of the event 04/11/2020
Report date 06/11/2020
Date submitted to OIE 06/11/2020
Reason for notification Recurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 14/01/2018
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 a defined zone within the country
New outbreaks (1)
Outbreak 1 Mitoyo-City, Kagawa
Date of start of the outbreak 04/11/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Birds 330000 2000 2000 328000 0
Affected population Poultry (broilers)
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Birds 330000 2000 2000 328000 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Birds 0.61% 0.61% 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 4 November 2020, the local veterinary service in Kagawa Prefecture received a notification from a domestic broilers farm on an increase in the number of dead birds. The samples were sent to the laboratory of the local veterinary service (Seibu Livestock Hygiene Service Centre; LHSC) and the samples collected from dead birds were positive for influenza A virus by antigen-capture kits. On 5 November, The LHSC conducted RT-PCR and RRT-PCR tests and confirmed that the subtype was H5. On 6 November, the National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH) conducted the sequencing test and confirmed that the subtype of the virus was H5N8 and causative virus was determined as high pathogenicity avian influenza. Stamping-out policy applied to the affected farm. Destruction of all the susceptible birds in the affected farm is being implemented. Movement and shipment restrictions are imposed on the farms within a radius of 3 km and 3-10 km of the affected farm respectively.
Control measures
Measures applied
  • Movement control inside the country
  • Screening
  • Quarantine
  • Stamping out
  • Disinfection
  • 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
Seibu Livestock Hygiene Service Centre (Local laboratory) Birds real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 05/11/2020 Positive
Seibu Livestock Hygiene Service Centre (Local laboratory) Birds reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 05/11/2020 Positive
National Institute of Animal Health (National laboratory) Birds gene sequencing 06/11/2020 Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.