Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO2719
2006-05-17 09:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT MAY 17
how-toVZCZCXRO7624 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #2719/01 1370953 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 170953Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2191 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6255 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6217 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 8884 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9473 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7418 RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 8255 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002719
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
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN DENNIS CARROLL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI WHO JA
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT MAY 17
REF: A. 05 STATE 153802
B. TOKYO 2572 AND PREVIOUS
C. TOKYO 295
D. TOKYO 729
E. 05 TOKYO 5594
TOKYO 00002719 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002719
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
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN DENNIS CARROLL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI WHO JA
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT MAY 17
REF: A. 05 STATE 153802
B. TOKYO 2572 AND PREVIOUS
C. TOKYO 295
D. TOKYO 729
E. 05 TOKYO 5594
TOKYO 00002719 001.2 OF 002
1. The following is an update on avian influenza (AI)
developments in Japan for the period May 11 to 17. No
human or animal outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza were
reported in Japan during the above period.
-- More Positive Cases from Last Year --
2. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW)
announced on May 11 that the total number of individuals
likely infected by the H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza
virus in Ibaraki and Saitama prefectures in 2005 now totals
93. The Ministry said that none of the individuals
developed symptoms and there was no threat for further
transmission of the virus. The National Institute of
Infectious Diseases (NIID) surveyed a total of 399
individuals, which included the employees of 41 poultry
farms that experienced outbreaks of H5N2 and officials who
worked on containment and outbreak control efforts. In
addition to the 77 individuals who tested positive during
last year's tests, 16 additional people were newly
determined as having been positive for H5N2 antibodies.
(For more see ref C).
-- Electrolyzed Water Technology to Kill the AI Virus? --
3. Researchers at Tottori University and the Sanyo
Electric Company announced on May 15 that they were able to
suppress 99% of airborne avian influenza viruses by
applying electrolysis to tap water and using the
electrolyzed water technology in a spray mist and air
filter that would then come into contact with the virus.
The researchers said that it is possible that one portion
of the virus's surface structure is destroyed when it comes
into contact with electrolyzed water. Sanyo Electric has
previously commercialized appliances that use electrolyzed
water to kill viruses in air purifiers, humidifiers and
washing machines that do not require detergents. The
company would like to apply the technology to purify air in
public conveyances such as aircraft and train carriages.
Further details can be found in a Sanyo press release:
-- Questions Remain on the Origin of Ibaraki Outbreaks --
4. On May 15, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries (MAFF) announced that its investigation into last
year's Ibaraki avian influenza outbreaks (ref D) showed
that there was something "abnormal" behind the infections.
Investigators injected the virus harvested from confirmed
infected chickens into healthy chickens and "Aigamo" or
rice ducks. (Note: the Aigamo is a cross between a wild
duck and a domestic duck, and is often used to control weed
growth in rice paddies). The investigators learned that
the chickens became highly infected but the rice ducks did
not, indicating that this was not a typical avian influenza
virus. While the route of infection is still disputed,
some team members said that it was possible the cause of
the outbreak was from the use of an illegal vaccine
produced in Central America (see ref E). However, a MAFF
official told EST FSN that the Ministry could not confirm
or deny this possibility due to the lack of any physical
evidence. The Ministry has created a team of MAFF experts
to study the route of infection. The team concluded that
the possibility of migratory birds being the source of the
outbreak was low due to the fact that the birds studied
developed antibodies to the virus very quickly within five
to seven days, rather than the typical 10-14 day incubation
period after infection.
TOKYO 00002719 002.2 OF 002
-- MAFF to Partially Lift UK Import Ban --
5. MAFF announced on May 15 that it was planning to soon
lift the complete ban on chicken imports from the United
Kingdom that was put into place on April 29. The ban will
continue to apply to the Norfolk county area, the site of a
recent low pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza outbreak.
DONOVAN
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
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN DENNIS CARROLL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI WHO JA
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT MAY 17
REF: A. 05 STATE 153802
B. TOKYO 2572 AND PREVIOUS
C. TOKYO 295
D. TOKYO 729
E. 05 TOKYO 5594
TOKYO 00002719 001.2 OF 002
1. The following is an update on avian influenza (AI)
developments in Japan for the period May 11 to 17. No
human or animal outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza were
reported in Japan during the above period.
-- More Positive Cases from Last Year --
2. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW)
announced on May 11 that the total number of individuals
likely infected by the H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza
virus in Ibaraki and Saitama prefectures in 2005 now totals
93. The Ministry said that none of the individuals
developed symptoms and there was no threat for further
transmission of the virus. The National Institute of
Infectious Diseases (NIID) surveyed a total of 399
individuals, which included the employees of 41 poultry
farms that experienced outbreaks of H5N2 and officials who
worked on containment and outbreak control efforts. In
addition to the 77 individuals who tested positive during
last year's tests, 16 additional people were newly
determined as having been positive for H5N2 antibodies.
(For more see ref C).
-- Electrolyzed Water Technology to Kill the AI Virus? --
3. Researchers at Tottori University and the Sanyo
Electric Company announced on May 15 that they were able to
suppress 99% of airborne avian influenza viruses by
applying electrolysis to tap water and using the
electrolyzed water technology in a spray mist and air
filter that would then come into contact with the virus.
The researchers said that it is possible that one portion
of the virus's surface structure is destroyed when it comes
into contact with electrolyzed water. Sanyo Electric has
previously commercialized appliances that use electrolyzed
water to kill viruses in air purifiers, humidifiers and
washing machines that do not require detergents. The
company would like to apply the technology to purify air in
public conveyances such as aircraft and train carriages.
Further details can be found in a Sanyo press release:
-- Questions Remain on the Origin of Ibaraki Outbreaks --
4. On May 15, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries (MAFF) announced that its investigation into last
year's Ibaraki avian influenza outbreaks (ref D) showed
that there was something "abnormal" behind the infections.
Investigators injected the virus harvested from confirmed
infected chickens into healthy chickens and "Aigamo" or
rice ducks. (Note: the Aigamo is a cross between a wild
duck and a domestic duck, and is often used to control weed
growth in rice paddies). The investigators learned that
the chickens became highly infected but the rice ducks did
not, indicating that this was not a typical avian influenza
virus. While the route of infection is still disputed,
some team members said that it was possible the cause of
the outbreak was from the use of an illegal vaccine
produced in Central America (see ref E). However, a MAFF
official told EST FSN that the Ministry could not confirm
or deny this possibility due to the lack of any physical
evidence. The Ministry has created a team of MAFF experts
to study the route of infection. The team concluded that
the possibility of migratory birds being the source of the
outbreak was low due to the fact that the birds studied
developed antibodies to the virus very quickly within five
to seven days, rather than the typical 10-14 day incubation
period after infection.
TOKYO 00002719 002.2 OF 002
-- MAFF to Partially Lift UK Import Ban --
5. MAFF announced on May 15 that it was planning to soon
lift the complete ban on chicken imports from the United
Kingdom that was put into place on April 29. The ban will
continue to apply to the Norfolk county area, the site of a
recent low pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza outbreak.
DONOVAN