VZCZCXRO9779
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNH RUEHPB
DE RUEHKO #3317/01 1660914
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150914Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3290
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6752
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6666
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9365
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9996
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7902
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 8269
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003317 
 
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 15 
 
REF: A. 05 STATE 153802 
¶B. TOKYO 3169 AND PREVIOUS 
 
TOKYO 00003317  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  The following is an update on avian influenza (AI) 
developments in Japan for the period June 8 to 15.  No 
human or animal outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza were 
reported in Japan during the above period. 
 
-- Ibaraki Prefecture Poultry Industry Hit Hard by Last 
Year's LPAI Outbreaks -- 
 
¶2. The number of layer chickens in Ibaraki Prefecture has 
declined approximately 30% as compared to the previous 
year, knocking Ibaraki from its position as the top poultry 
producing prefecture in Japan according to the results of 
an annual survey conducted by agricultural officials every 
February.  The number of chickens fell 29.5% to a current 
total of 8.5 million birds, a reduction of 3.6 million 
chickens.  The total number of breeder houses in the 
prefecture also fell by 21 units.  This currently places 
Ibaraki as the fifth largest producer in Japan, following 
Chiba, Aichi, Kagoshima and Hiroshima Prefectures.  The 
officials issuing the report connected the reduction to the 
low pathogenic avian influenza outbreak last year that 
forced many farmers to cull their chickens, leading to the 
closure of some businesses. 
 
-- Japan No Longer "Hungary" for Budapest's Chicken Exports 
-- 
 
¶3. On June 12, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries (MAFF) announced that it would suspend imports of 
poultry meat from Hungary due to outbreaks of highly 
pathogenic avian influenza in that country.  MAFF is 
requesting further information from the government of 
Hungary on the outbreak.  Japan imported 193 tons of 
poultry meat and 331 tons of poultry guts from Hungary in 
2005, making Hungary the number two source of imported foie 
gras. 
 
-- Hundreds of Dead Migratory Birds Wash Up in Miyagi 
Prefecture -- 
 
¶4. Officials have found hundreds of dead migratory birds 
that have washed up on the shores of Miyagi Prefecture 
between Natori and Iwanuma Cities.  The prefecture's Nature 
Conservation Division said the birds were Shearwaters, a 
type of seabird.  They blamed the deaths on poor weather, 
and said that there was no concern that avian influenza was 
to blame.  The birds typically migrate from Australia to 
Siberia between the spring and summer, passing through 
Japan along the way.   Officials sent three of the dead 
birds to a health facility in Sendai City, where scientists 
used a quick test to check for avian influenza.  The 
results all came back negative. 
 
-- More Vaccine Needed for this Winter's Seasonal Flu -- 
 
¶5. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) expects 
that between 21.5 and 22.8 million ampoules of seasonal 
influenza vaccine will be needed for the upcoming winter 
season.  This is up one million ampoules from the previous 
year.  The number of ampoules will be able to treat more 
than 40 million people.  Four Japanese vaccine makers will 
be able to supply 23 million ampoules to satisfy the 
demand.  The Ministry also mentioned that an additional 4.7 
million ampoules might become necessary to respond to a 
potential increase in demand from individuals who will want 
a seasonal influenza vaccination if a patient suffering 
from avian influenza is detected in Japan. 
 
-- High School Agriculture Students Take Small Steps to 
Prevent AI -- 
 
¶6. Students at the Nogei High School in Nantan City, Kyoto 
 
TOKYO 00003317  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Prefecture have designed a poultry house that significantly 
reduces the amount of stress chickens feel when kept at 
such facilities.  The students were prohibited from raising 
poultry due to an avian influenza outbreak that occurred in 
the area in early 2004, but when school officials agreed to 
restart the program, the students decided to completely 
redesign the school's chicken coops by taking into 
consideration avian influenza prevention measures such as 
ways to prevent unwanted contact with wild birds.  The 
school's original cages were built so that each bird was 
kept in a separate 20x40x40 centimeter enclosure where they 
also laid their eggs, but in the redesigned houses, several 
birds coexist in a larger 150x180x175 centimeter cage that 
is outfitted with perches and egg laying areas that are 
covered with a black cloth to reduce stress.  The students 
report that though the chickens are laying slightly fewer 
eggs, they appear healthier.  The school hopes that this 
activity will provide the students with an idea of how to 
produce safe and secure agricultural products. 
 
SCHIEFFER