(JP) Artificial infection suspected in Ibaraki bird flu outbreak

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http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20050904TDY02002.htm

 

Artificial infection suspected in Ibaraki bird flu

outbreak

 

The Yomiuri Shimbun

 

Artificial infection, including that stemming from the

use of vaccines, could be behind a weak strain of

avian influenza detected in poultry farms in Ibaraki

Prefecture, according to a panel advising the

agriculture ministry on bird flu, indicating

unauthorized vaccines could have been used.

 

Farmers, who have their hands full trying to contain

the spread of the bird flu, were taken aback by the

possibility of a man-made calamity caused by illegal

acts.

 

Since June, chickens in 28 poultry farms in Ibaraki

Prefecture, a key production center of chickens in the

country, and a poultry farm in Saitama Prefecture

tested positive for the antibody of a virus, showing

that chickens were infected in the past.

 

The virus was detected in chickens at seven of the

farms.

 

An analysis by the National Institute of Animal

Health, an independent administrative corporation,

found that the genetic makeup of the virus bore a

similarity of 94 percent-97 percent to a virus found

in Central and South American countries, including

Mexico and Guatemala. The virus did not exist in

Japan, and it is highly unlikely it was carried to the

country by migratory birds.

 

There also are no indications live birds infected with

the virus have been imported.

 

Hokkaido University Prof. Hiroshi Kida, head of the

advisory panel to the Agriculture, Forestry and

Fisheries Ministry, said a vaccine developed using the

Central and South American virus was brought into the

country and possibly used on some birds.

 

The ministry has a stock of vaccines in preparation

for a massive bird flu outbreak, but it prohibits the

general use of them, so vaccines approved by the

ministry have not been distributed.

 

As the virus detected in the farms has a genetic

makeup different from that of vaccines on sale abroad,

it could have been developed without going through due

procedures and have been imported, ministry officials

said.

 

Since the use of unauthorized vaccines violates the

Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Instruments Law, the

ministry is trying to determine the route of infection

and plans to file criminal complaints if illegal acts

are confirmed to have taken place.

 

Farmers in Ibaraki Prefecture were nonplussed by the

possible use of unauthorized vaccines.

 

Since June, when inspecting farms, the prefectural

government has even checked waste to see if vaccines

were used.

 

A prefectural government official said that so far, no

indications pointing to the use of vaccines had been

found.

 

Several owners of poultry farms where the virus has

been detected said they did not use vaccines,

including those from overseas.

 

(Sep. 4, 2005)