This season, outbreaks of avian influenza are occurring all over the country at an unusual pace, and there is a growing risk that the number of chickens and other animals that will be disposed of will reach a record high.
Experts warn that it is still in the first half of the epidemic, and that the likelihood of an outbreak will continue to be very high.
This season, highly pathogenic avian influenza has occurred at poultry farms all over the country, and the number of chickens that have been targeted for disposal has reached about 7.3 million by the 28th.
If the outbreak continues at this pace, there is a growing risk that it will exceed the record high of 9.87 million birds from last year to last year.
Professor Yoshihiro Sakoda of Hokkaido University, who is well versed in avian influenza, explained why the outbreaks continued at an unusual pace, saying, "This season, migratory birds infected with the virus began arriving at least in late September, the earliest ever." By reaching various points in the region, the virus was brought in unprecedentedly."
On top of that, regarding the future outlook, he said, ``When migratory birds that fly in move within the country, the virus will continue to be carried, and the infection will spread to birds that have settled in the country, such as crows, and the virus will continue to be maintained until spring. We are still in the first half of the epidemic, and the possibility of outbreaks at poultry farms and other places is very high, so I would like production sites to continue to implement thorough hygiene measures."
Expert ``Risk of continuing epidemic is increasing''
This season's bird flu outbreak was the earliest yet, with the first confirmed cases on October 28 at poultry farms in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture and Atsuma, Hokkaido.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 12 outbreaks were confirmed at poultry farms by the 28th in Kagoshima Prefecture, followed by 4 each in Kagawa and Okayama prefectures, and Hokkaido and Okinawa prefectures. In total, there are 22 roads and 49 locations in the prefecture.
In addition, at a poultry farm in Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, where the outbreak was confirmed on the 15th of this month, about 1.37 million chickens are being disposed of, and the poultry farm in Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture, where the outbreak was confirmed in December More than 1.16 million birds are expected to be disposed of, which is the highest number ever for a single site.
In addition, the number of chickens and other animals that will be culled this season has reached approximately 7.3 million by the 28th, exceeding the approximately 5.78 million chickens from 2005 to 2006 when low-pathogenic avian influenza spread. It is the second largest season ever.
If the outbreak continues at this pace, the number of slaughtered birds this season could exceed the record high of 9.87 million birds between the year before and last year.
Professor Sakoda of Hokkaido University said, "Compared to 10 years ago, in the epidemics of the past few years, a considerable proportion of birds have survived infection and have traveled back and forth between the continent and Japan. "We're starting to see a cycle of returning, and it's possible that the reduced virulence of the virus has allowed it to travel longer distances, causing it to infect many different species of birds," he said. also points out that the risk of the epidemic continuing every year is increasing.