21.01.2011

Japan

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in the corpses of two migratory wild ducks found at Fukushima reservoir.

From Jan. 4 to Jan. 10, the prefecture gathered seven bird corpses from the reservoir and sent them for testing at the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. Four of the corpses tested positive for Type-A influenza, and further investigation at Hokkaido University in Sapporo found that two had the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. The other two are still being investigated.

The discovery of H5N1 avian influenza in Koriyama is the sixth confirmed case in the country since October of last year, when it was detected in duck droppings in Wakkanai, Hokkaido. Further cases were confirmed in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, and Izumi, Kagoshima Prefecture.

In December Japan reported finding H5N1 in four captive wild birds at a zoo and in six hooded cranes at a bird sanctuary.