The veterinary authorities have reported 418 outbreaks of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
The veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification dated 24 April to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
It describes 418 outbreaks of PED in 33 outbreak clusters. The first was in Okinawa, where there have been four outbreaks since 1 October 2013. The most recent outbreaks started on 21 April 2014.
On a scale of zero to five, morbidity is scored at 3 and mortality at 2.
The report explains that PED is a notifiable disease in Japan and PED vaccines approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
In October 2013, an outbreak of PED was confirmed after an absence of seven years.
The number of outbreaks started to increase from December 2013 in southern Kyushu - the country's westernmost large island. The number of outbreaks there temporarily decreased in February 2014, however, they started to increase again in March 2014 and at the same time, outbreaks were confirmed in northern Kyushu area and other prefectures in the northern part of Japan. Numbers of newly affected prefectures by month are as follows: October (1), November (1), December (2), January (1), February (2), March (10), April (16). In addition, diagnostic test result indicated in this report is only on the first case in October 2013.
Outbreaks after the first case are diagnosed at local laboratories in each prefecture by the same method.
According to genetic analysis by the National Institute of Animal Health, viruses isolated from the cases in October and November 2013 were close to the viruses isolated in the People’s Republic of China and the US in 2013.
The direct source of PEDv infection remains unknown.
Th following measures are being applied: movement control inside the country; disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s); no vaccination; supportive care for affected animals.
