VZCZCXRO7624
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB
DE RUEHKO #2719/01 1370953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170953Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2191
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6255
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6217
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 8884
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9473
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7418
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 8255
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002719 
 
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 WHO JA
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT MAY 17 
 
REF: A. 05 STATE 153802 
¶B. TOKYO 2572 AND PREVIOUS 
¶C. TOKYO 295 
¶D. TOKYO 729 
¶E. 05 TOKYO 5594 
 
TOKYO 00002719  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  The following is an update on avian influenza (AI) 
developments in Japan for the period May 11 to 17.  No 
human or animal outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza were 
reported in Japan during the above period. 
 
-- More Positive Cases from Last Year -- 
 
¶2.  The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) 
announced on May 11 that the total number of individuals 
likely infected by the H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza 
virus in Ibaraki and Saitama prefectures in 2005 now totals 
¶93.  The Ministry said that none of the individuals 
developed symptoms and there was no threat for further 
transmission of the virus.  The National Institute of 
Infectious Diseases (NIID) surveyed a total of 399 
individuals, which included the employees of 41 poultry 
farms that experienced outbreaks of H5N2 and officials who 
worked on containment and outbreak control efforts.  In 
addition to the 77 individuals who tested positive during 
last year's tests, 16 additional people were newly 
determined as having been positive for H5N2 antibodies. 
(For more see ref C). 
 
-- Electrolyzed Water Technology to Kill the AI Virus? -- 
 
¶3.  Researchers at Tottori University and the Sanyo 
Electric Company announced on May 15 that they were able to 
suppress 99% of airborne avian influenza viruses by 
applying electrolysis to tap water and using the 
electrolyzed water technology in a spray mist and air 
filter that would then come into contact with the virus. 
The researchers said that it is possible that one portion 
of the virus's surface structure is destroyed when it comes 
into contact with electrolyzed water.  Sanyo Electric has 
previously commercialized appliances that use electrolyzed 
water to kill viruses in air purifiers, humidifiers and 
washing machines that do not require detergents.  The 
company would like to apply the technology to purify air in 
public conveyances such as aircraft and train carriages. 
Further details can be found in a Sanyo press release: 
 
 
-- Questions Remain on the Origin of Ibaraki Outbreaks -- 
 
¶4.  On May 15, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries (MAFF) announced that its investigation into last 
year's Ibaraki avian influenza outbreaks (ref D) showed 
that there was something "abnormal" behind the infections. 
Investigators injected the virus harvested from confirmed 
infected chickens into healthy chickens and "Aigamo" or 
rice ducks.  (Note: the Aigamo is a cross between a wild 
duck and a domestic duck, and is often used to control weed 
growth in rice paddies).  The investigators learned that 
the chickens became highly infected but the rice ducks did 
not, indicating that this was not a typical avian influenza 
virus.  While the route of infection is still disputed, 
some team members said that it was possible the cause of 
the outbreak was from the use of an illegal vaccine 
produced in Central America (see ref E).  However, a MAFF 
official told EST FSN that the Ministry could not confirm 
or deny this possibility due to the lack of any physical 
evidence.  The Ministry has created a team of MAFF experts 
to study the route of infection.  The team concluded that 
the possibility of migratory birds being the source of the 
outbreak was low due to the fact that the birds studied 
developed antibodies to the virus very quickly within five 
to seven days, rather than the typical 10-14 day incubation 
period after infection. 
 
TOKYO 00002719  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
-- MAFF to Partially Lift UK Import Ban -- 
 
¶5.  MAFF announced on May 15 that it was planning to soon 
lift the complete ban on chicken imports from the United 
Kingdom that was put into place on April 29.  The ban will 
continue to apply to the Norfolk county area, the site of a 
recent low pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza outbreak. 
 
DONOVAN