Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3622
2006-06-29 09:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT JUNE 29
how-toVZCZCXRO4405 PP RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #3622 1800902 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 290902Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3821 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6978 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6881 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9590 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0258 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8130 RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 8278 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
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
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
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