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Biosecurity Briefing
Japan Receives Approval for Pre-Pandemic Vaccination, H5N1 Outbreaks in South Korea and Russia By Michelle Cantu, April 18, 2008 According to BBC News article on April 16, 2008, a panel of government-appointed experts decided to back a proposal for pre-pandemic vaccination of healthcare workers in Japan. This decision will make Japan the “first country in the world to vaccinate thousands of officials against bird flu.”1 Although H5N1 influenza does not currently spread readily from person to person, there is concern that if the virus became easily transmissible among humans, outbreaks in other parts of Asia may quickly spread to Japan. With that in mind, Japan has stockpiled approximately 20 million doses of pre-pandemic vaccine, and according to BBC News, plans to use approximately 6,400 doses to vaccinate “doctors, quarantine inspectors and other health and immigration officials.”1 Japanese Health Minister, Yoichi Asuzoe, told BBC News, “If we obtain good results over [the vaccine’s] effectiveness and safety, we want to consider vaccinating (an additional) 10 million people who are in medical occupations.”1 Reuters reported on April 15 that the pre-pandemic vaccine to be used in Japan has properties based on “H5N1 viruses from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.”2 According to the BBC News article, the stockpiled vaccine was produced by the Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University and the Kitasato Institute.1 In other news, on April 13, 2008, South Korea animal health officials confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza virus at a fourth farm in Yeongam, southwest of Seoul. Outbreaks have also been reported at farms in North Jeolla province. This news came while birds from 6 other suspected H5N1 outbreaks in South Korea were being tested for the virus.3 According to a CIDRAP News report, experts in South Korea told Korea Times that this set of outbreaks differs from previous years in that “[p]ast outbreaks occurred in cooler months,” and these outbreaks are occurring during warmer months. Other changes have been noted this year as well. Past outbreaks affected primarily chickens, and the most recent outbreak in Yeongam is now affecting ducks.3 Additionally, Russia has had recent avian outbreaks in the Primorye region of the country. This represents the first known recurrence of H5N1 infection in Russia since December 2007. According to Russian officials, all birds associated with that outbreak have been destroyed. References
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