Bird Flu Hits Japanese Broiler Breeder Flock
JAPAN - Almost 73,000 broiler breeders at a farm in Saga prefecture in the north-west of the island of Kyushu have been culled following the detection of the H5N8 high-path bird flu virus.
21 January 2015
3 minute read
By: The veterinary authority sent Follow Up report No.11 dated 20 January to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
On 17 January, a broiler breeder farm at Aryrita-cho in Saga prefecture was hit by highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N8 variant. Eight of the flock of around 72,900 birds died. The rest have been culled.
According to the report, on 17 January 2015, the local veterinary service in Saga prefecture received notification from the broiler breeder farm of an increase in the number of dead birds. The samples from the dead birds were sent to the laboratory of the local veterinary service centre (Chubu Livestock Hygiene Centre) and it was found that the samples were influenza A virus positive by antigen-captive kits. On the same day the centre started RT-PCR test and on the following day it was confirmed that the subtype was H5.
A stamping-out policy has been applied to the affected farm and destruction of all the susceptible birds in the affected farm (around 72,900 birds) was completed on 18 January.
Movement restriction was imposed on the farms within the radius of 3km of the affected farm. Shipment restriction is imposed on the farms within the radius of three to 10km of the affected farm.
On 19 January 2015, the National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH) confirmed that the isolated virus is highly pathogenic to chickens based on gene sequencing and also identified the NA subtype as N8.
The report includes follow-up information on previous outbreaks:
- The second outbreak in poultry in Miyazaki: On 20 January, movements restriction were lifted since 21 days had passed without any new outbreaks after control measures including stamping out, which were completed on 29 December 2014.
- Outbreak in poultry in Okayama: on 17 January, NIAH confirmed that the isolated virus is highly pathogenic to chickens based on gene sequencing and also identified the NA subtype as N8. On 19 January 2015, the destruction was completed of all susceptible birds (around 200,000) at the affected farm.
