UNCLAS TOKYO 002438

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AIAG AMBASSADOR LANGE
DEPT FOR OES/IHA SINGER AND FENDRICK
DEPT FOR EAP/J
USDA PASS TO APHIS
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER, BHAT AND ELVANDER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI WHO JA
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT MAY 2

REF: A. 05 STATE 153802


B. TOKYO 2307 AND PREVIOUS


1. The following is an update on avian influenza (AI)
developments in Japan for the period April 27 to May 2. No
human or animal outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza were
reported in Japan during that period.

-- MAFF Suspends UK Poultry Imports, Turns to US for More --


2. On April 29, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries (MAFF) announced that it has suspended imports of
poultry and poultry meat from the United Kingdom because of
an H7N3 outbreak of avian influenza there. Most of the
chickens bred in Japan are descended from chickens imported
from abroad. In 2005, Japan imported 375,000 chickens from
the UK, or about 37 percent of total imports. France, the
United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada also
exported poultry to Japan. Imports of chickens from France,
Germany and the Netherlands are also currently suspended.
MAFF plans to expand imports of poultry from the United
States and Canada to minimize the suspension's impact on
Japan's poultry farms.
DONOVAN