September 5, 2005

Japanese professor suspects man-made infection caused country's bird flu outbreaks

Professor Hiroshi Kida, head of the advisory panel to Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, said he suspected man-made infections, including use of unauthorised vaccines on poultry, might be the cause of the recent bird flu outbreaks in Ibaraki prefecture.

Infective pathogens could be left in the vaccine if not properly processed, thus allowing the possibility of an outbreak from the vaccine.

Following tests on samples by the National Institute of Animal Health, an independent administrative corporation, it was reportedly found that the genetic makeup of the virus was strikingly similar to the type found in Central and South American countries. The virus did not exist in Japan, and it was considered highly unlikely that migratory birds or live poultry imports were the cause of infection.

While the Japanese government held a stock of vaccines in case of a massive bird flu outbreak, it prohibited the general use of them. As such, officially approved vaccines have not been distributed.

The government said it suspected the unauthorised vaccines could have been developed without going through due procedures and then imported, thus explaining the different genetic makeup of the virus from that of authorised vaccines.

Meanwhile, the government has been investigating the route of infection and planned to take legal action if such an illegal act was confirmed to have taken place.

However, an Ibaraki prefecture official said so far, there was no evidence suggesting the use of unauthorised vaccines.