AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT JUNE 29

UNCLAS TOKYO 003622 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 JA SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT JUNE 29 REF: A. 05 STATE 153802 ¶B. TOKYO 2907 ¶C. TOKYO 2017 ¶D. TOKYO 3514 ¶E. TOKYO 3317 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. The following is an update on avian influenza (AI) developments in Japan for the period June 22 to 29. No human or animal outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza were reported in Japan during the above period. -- Ibaraki Announces End of AI Outbreaks -- ¶2. On June 23, the Ibaraki Prefectural Government announced that avian influenza outbreaks were no longer occurring in the prefecture after officials confirmed that all of the 40 previously infected poultry farms tested negative for any traces of the virus. Ibaraki poultry farmers complained that the government's announcement was not the declaration of safety they were seeking in order to prevent harmful rumors from affecting consumer confidence. For further details see ref B. -- Snow Melting Agent may have Killed Hokkaido Sparrows -- ¶3. As reported in ref C, hundreds of dead sparrows have been found since the end of last year near the cities of Sapporo and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. The Chairman of the Hokkaido Veterinary Medical Association Hiroshi Kanagawa suggested that there is a high probability that the sparrows died from a combination of factors including cold temperatures and food shortages. Because of the lack of food, the sparrows may have instead attempted to eat a snow-melting agent made from calcium chloride. The medical association analyzed a report released by a civic organization called Eco-Network in May. According to the report, Hokkaido experienced heavy snows this past winter and local residents concerned about avian influenza stopped feeding the birds. The sparrows had limited access to water and were unable to expel the agent from their bodies. Hokkaido University and Rakuno Gakuen University conducted autopsies on the dead sparrows, but they could not find the cause of the deaths. Tests for parasites, viruses and other chemical substances came back negative. -- Importation of Canadian Chickens to Resume -- ¶4. On June 28, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) lifted a ban on the importation of Canadian poultry meat and guts based on a report from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). A ban on imports from British Columbia will continue to remain in place due to a lack of complete information. Imports were temporarily suspended on June 17. For further details see ref D. DONOVAN