Stay alert to prevent spread of bird flu
Thousands of chickens have died in the past few days at a chicken farm in Miyazaki Prefecture. Suspecting that virulent avian influenza might be responsible for the deaths, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has taken emergency steps to contain the outbreak.
In 2004, bird flu was confirmed among birds in this country for the first time in 79 years in outbreaks in Yamaguchi, Oita and Kyoto prefectures. In 2005, a massive infection ravaged birds in Ibaraki Prefecture.
In these cases, the infection was neither properly nor swiftly suppressed. In Ibaraki Prefecture, it took nearly one year to completely quell the disease. This woeful response resulted from the inability of the central and local governments to swiftly devise appropriate measures, a problem compounded by chicken farm operators that concealed information on the matter.
The central and local governments must do all they can to contain this latest outbreak of what appears to be avian flu and prevent its spread.
Some measures have already been introduced, including the suspension of transfers of chickens between the farm struck by the deadly infection and other firms within a 10-kilometer radius.
Local authorities have set up checkpoints to control the movement of people in the affected area. The restrictions might hinder the daily life of residents, so we urge organizations concerned and chicken farm operators to communicate and cooperate appropriately to ensure the infection is isolated and does not spread.
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No need to panic
Miyazaki Prefecture is home to the nation's largest number of broiler chickens feeding at chicken farms. There have been no reports of people becoming infected with bird flu after eating chicken meat or eggs. Spreading rumors and whispers can exacerbate the damage already caused: Great care should be taken to prevent people from blowing this episode all out of proportion.
Although an analysis of the virus from the farm in question has yet to be completed, all efforts must be made to prevent human infection during clean-up work, such as while disposing of infected birds.
At the farm, 2,400 chickens died over a three-day period. The suddenness of the symptoms suggests the virus is the virulent H5N1 type--the same strain confirmed in the three cases in 2004.
This particular strain has spread across much of Asia over the past several years. In several cases, the virus has infected a number of humans.
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Global response needed
Infections have been especially rampant in Indonesia and other countries where people keep chickens in their backyards. According to the World Health Organization, of the 264 people so far infected with the H5N1 strain, 158 have died.
Pinpointing the infection route in the latest case will be vital. Initially, migrant birds are suspected to be the source of contamination. In Hong Kong, such birds were found to be infected with a bird flu virus.
In South Korea, avian influenza was detected in November for the first time in 2-1/2 years. In China, cases of human infection from bird flu have been popping up on a regular basis. People from these areas could unknowingly bring the virus into Japan, so international cooperation to combat the bird flu infection is indispensable.
China has been criticized for dragging its feet when it comes to supplying pertinent information to international organizations such as the WHO. The government must call on Beijing to cooperate more with regards to information exchange and surveillance of infections in areas affected by bird flu.
Of greatest concern is that while the virus continues to spread among birds, it could mutate into a new type capable of person-to-person transmission. According to one estimate, if this nightmare scenario occurs, one in four people in Japan will be infected, and several hundred thousand people could die. We must remain vigilant.
