Environment Avian flu outbreak in Hokkaido

[thomas]

The highly pathogenic avian influenza, known for its severe fatality rate, is suspected to be behind a surge in unexplained deaths and abnormal behaviour among marine wildlife along eastern Hokkaido 's coastline.

Since mid-March, increasing numbers of seabirds and marine mammals along the region's eastern shore are believed to have contracted the virus. In Nemuro, a volunteer-led independent survey had recorded 614 dead seabirds by 4 May, in addition to seals and sea otters. Although a sea otter found dead in neighbouring Hamanaka was confirmed to have been infected, the lack of adequate investigation systems in many nearby municipalities suggests that the actual extent of the outbreak may be significantly underreported.

The investigation team, by walking the coast to confirm and collect carcasses and aggregating information from fishery workers, has identified a total of 23 species of seabirds potentially infected, including five species listed on the Environment Ministry's Red List (the common murre, ancient murrelet, Laysan albatross, pelagic cormorant and spectacled guillemot). The most numerous are the crested auklets, which accounted for 155 of the about 200 birds collected on 18 April. Toyama expressed uncertainty about the background of the mass deaths and the infection routes. There has also been a report that as a fishery worker threw a common scoter found dead on a boat into the sea, an eagle ate it. Toyama pointed out, "There are concerns about infection chains stemming from scavenging." With seabirds entering their breeding season, he expressed a sense of crisis, saying, "The spread of infection in breeding colonies may result in mass deaths of seabirds."

Bird flu suspected in mass deaths of sea animals in eastern Hokkaido - The Mainichi

NEMURO, Hokkaido -- The highly pathogenic avian influenza, known for its high mortality rate, is suspected as the cause of mass deaths and abnormal be

mainichi.jp