Japan is set to apply for a resumption of meat exports, following health checks of livestock that confirmed no foot-and-mouth infections in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki.
The agriculture ministry and Miyazaki Prefecture, which was hit by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in April, started checking more than 6,000 cattle at farms chosen at random earlier this month.
Veterinarians inspected the cattle for any symptoms of the disease and took blood samples from 2,100 for further tests. No suspected cases have been found.
Japan has suspended exports of beef, pork and other meat products since April, apart from shipments to some countries and territories.
In order to resume meat exports, a country must gain certification from the World Organization for Animal Health, known as the OIE, that the country is free from foot-and-mouth disease.
The agriculture ministry plans to apply for the certification to the OIE in early October.
In February next year, an OIE committee will determine whether to put Japan back on the list of foot-and-mouth disease-free countries. Consultation with countries receiving the meat will also be needed.
2010年9月23日木曜日
2010年6月10日木曜日
Miyakonojo struggles to contain outbreak
Over 200 cattle have been slaughtered at a farm in Miyakonojo City, the heart of Japan's livestock industry, after a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
The farm in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, culled all 208 cattle on Thursday after finding the previous day that 3 showed symptoms of the disease.
Tests later confirmed that the 3 were infected. The city is about 50 kilometers southwest of the areas where the outbreak has been concentrated since its onset in mid-April.
The prefecture is planning to ban the movement of livestock within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected farm, and transport of animals from within a 20-kilomter radius.
The non-transport zone covers parts of neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture.
The farm in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, culled all 208 cattle on Thursday after finding the previous day that 3 showed symptoms of the disease.
Tests later confirmed that the 3 were infected. The city is about 50 kilometers southwest of the areas where the outbreak has been concentrated since its onset in mid-April.
The prefecture is planning to ban the movement of livestock within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected farm, and transport of animals from within a 20-kilomter radius.
The non-transport zone covers parts of neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture.
2010年5月10日月曜日
Japan's foot-and-mouth virus like one found in HK
Japan's Agriculture Ministry says the foot-and-mouth disease virus found in a farm animal in a southwestern prefecture was similar to one found in Hong Kong.
The ministry says the 2 viruses likely share a route of infection, but it is unclear if the virus found in Japan came directly from Hong Kong, or entered the country from a third location.
The ministry sent genetic information of the virus taken from a sick animal in Miyazaki Prefecture to a British laboratory for analysis. The ministry is comparing the genetic makeup of the virus found in Japan with those found in other parts of the world.
The study determined that the virus found in Japan shares 99.2 percent of its genetic materials with the virus found in Hong Kong, 98.6 percent with one found in South Korea, and 93 percent with the one in Myanmar.
The samples were taken from a pig infected with foot-and-mouth disease in Hong Kong in February, and from the first infected livestock found in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The number of cows and pigs in the prefecture thought to be infected has risen since the first suspected case was reported in April. The ministry continues to analyze the genetic information, while taking measures to prevent the virus from spreading further.
A part of the foot-and-mouth virus is known to change genetic sequence as the virus spreads. The ministry is focused on that part as it compares data
The ministry says the 2 viruses likely share a route of infection, but it is unclear if the virus found in Japan came directly from Hong Kong, or entered the country from a third location.
The ministry sent genetic information of the virus taken from a sick animal in Miyazaki Prefecture to a British laboratory for analysis. The ministry is comparing the genetic makeup of the virus found in Japan with those found in other parts of the world.
The study determined that the virus found in Japan shares 99.2 percent of its genetic materials with the virus found in Hong Kong, 98.6 percent with one found in South Korea, and 93 percent with the one in Myanmar.
The samples were taken from a pig infected with foot-and-mouth disease in Hong Kong in February, and from the first infected livestock found in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The number of cows and pigs in the prefecture thought to be infected has risen since the first suspected case was reported in April. The ministry continues to analyze the genetic information, while taking measures to prevent the virus from spreading further.
A part of the foot-and-mouth virus is known to change genetic sequence as the virus spreads. The ministry is focused on that part as it compares data
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