Japan Culls Poultry in Effort to Prevent Spread of H5N8 Bird Flu
JAPAN - The Japanese veterinary authorities have reported that no further outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza have taken place.
21 April 2014
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According to follow-up report no. 1 sent to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), culling of susceptible animals started on 13 April 2014 and was completed on 14 April 2014.
Carcasses of destroyed birds and contaminated materials were buried and farm premises were disinfected.
These control measures were completed on 16 April 2014. Movement restrictions (3km radius around the affected farm and the related farm) and shipping restrictions (3-10km radius around the affected farm and the related farm) are continuing.
There are three farms/premises rearing poultry within the movement restriction zones and they are under surveillance.
A total of 17 disinfection stations were established in and around the restriction zones.
On 15 April 2014, the National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH) confirmed that the isolated virus is highly pathogenic to birds, based on genetic sequencing.
On 17 April 2014, the NA subtype was confirmed as N8 by NIAH.
On 15 April, virus isolation and virus sequencing tests were carried out and on 17 April, a haemagglutination inhibition test (HIT) was conducted. All tests resulted positive.
The source of the outbreaks still remains inconclusive.
