The Japan foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2010 occurred in Miyazaki Prefecture, affecting cattle, swine, sheep and goats. A similar outbreak had occurred ten years earlier, in 2000. Located on the eastern coast of Japan's Kyūshū island, Miyazaki Prefecture plays a significant role in supplying top-quality Wagyū cattle for the production of Wagyū beef throughout Japan including Matsuzaka and Ōmi. The number of livestock killed was 297,808, and the estimated economic loss was 235 billion yen.
History of the outbreak
2000 outbreak The first FMD case in Miyazaki in 93 years was identified on March 25, 2000. The following day, the infected cattle were slaughtered. The Miyazaki FMD Control Department announced on March 29 that the virus had been identified as serotype O. A further announcement on April 2 revealed that nine more cattle were infected, and that the first case could have been contracted from straw imported from China, but this was never confirmed. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) confirmed on April 3 that the first case was serotype O ME-SA PanAsia. On April 9, samples from 16 animals, showing no clinical signs of infection, underwent ELISA antibody testing; five days later, the test results were revealed to be positive, and the cattle were slaughtered. The MAFF announced a budget of 10 billion yen for affected farmers on April 27, and on May 10 Miyazaki Prefecture declared the disease eradicated. Overall, approximately 700 cattle were slaughtered in this outbreak.
2006 In December 2006, Hisashi Makizaki, an ex-trainee at Livestock Raising Examination Facility in Miyazaki Prefecture, stole approximately 40 straw type vials which contained cryo-preserved sperm from YASUHIRA, one of Japan's top stud bulls and a legend in Miyazaki. It was later reported that he had three accomplices (two stockbreeders, one office worker) involved in selling specimens both within and outside of Miyazaki Prefecture including Hokkaido, northernmost of the four main islands of Japan. They were charged with not only stealing 40 vials of 0.5 cc frozen bull semen in December 2006, but also stealing about 100 vials again in January 2007.
Specimens were sold illegally for ¥100,000 to ¥150,000 per container without a Wagyu certificate, or ¥200,000 with a certificate. The legal price with a certificate is normally ¥5,000. The four were arrested and Makizaki was sentenced later to 3½ years in prison.
2007 On March 7, 2007, Asahi Shimbun reported that a total of 143 cryo-preserved sperm samples from stud bulls for selective breeding had been stolen from the Livestock Raising Examination Facility in Miyazaki Prefecture.
2009 In October 2009, 1300 cryo-preserved sperm containers from stud bulls were stolen from the Miyazaki Prefecture office of Japan Agriculture
2010
January Seiichiro Dokyu (Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lawmaker, Miyazaki Prefecture) proposed that several farms in Kumamoto Prefecture should accept Korean trainees through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
February Agura Farm accepted a Korean trainee who was from Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. The owner of this farm was reported to have committed suicide later.
March A farmer in Tsuno town, Miyazaki, notified a veterinarian that one of his water buffalos had diarrhea. The water buffalos produced the milk used to make mozzarella cheese, which is a key commercial activity of the farm. According to contemporaneous reports from [Nishinippon Shimbun], and other media outlets (31 March 2010), the attending veterinarian escalated the case to the [Miyazaki Livestock Hygiene Service Center] for differential diagnosis.宮崎家畜保健衛生所検査課だけが宮崎県の家畜の病性鑑定と診断をする。その中には年間2500頭の死亡牛のBSE検査や鳥インフルエンザ、炭疽などの検査も含まれる Initial clinical examinations revealed no overt signs consistent with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), nor were bacterial or viral pathogens conclusively identified as etiological agents. The gastrointestinal symptoms subsequently resolved spontaneously without determination of causation. The sample taken from the water buffalo on 31 March was later found to be FMD positive on 23 April after a DNA test conducted on 22 April (case 6). By this juncture, Miyazaki Prefecture and national agricultural authorities had documented four confirmed FMD cases within the region. Archival data indicates three animal specimens had been collected for analysis prior to Case 6 confirmation. Notably, due to the symptoms were different from the one in 2000, This variance in disease manifestation contributed to delayed pathogen identification.
April Agura Farm was reported to have had more than 100 cattle with FMD at the beginning of the month, but this was not disclosed until later.
On April 9, a cow in Tsuno town was diagnosed with oral inflammation. Junichi Aoki, a private veterinarian, requested the Miyazaki Livestock Hygiene Service Center to assess the symptoms. Upon examination by a veterinarian and officials from the Infectious Disease Prevention Department, only one cow exhibited symptoms. For a fast-spreading infectious disease such as FMD, this was insufficient evidence to confirm the disease. Consequently, the case was classified as inconclusive, and no public report was issued. Details on what diagnosis was made are unknown. In this case, the cattle had slight dribbling saliva, an ulcerous scab, and fever. Poor appetite and fever were present only for a day. In addition, four days had already passed since the recovery from one-day fever. FMD cattle usually have blisters or heavy saliva dribbling. The incubation period for FMD is about 1 week in cattle. The veterinarian checked the farm daily until April 12, but no cattle with symptoms were reported.
On April 16, a second case was reported on the same farm. On April 17, after inspecting the farm, two additional cases with similar symptoms were identified. Authentication was started. According to the Prevention of Epidemics Guideline, Miyazaki Livestock Hygiene Service Center must be notified immediately when more than 2 cases are present. For that reason, Metro medias criticized the farm's delay for neglect. Some reports suggested that four cattle were showing symptoms by May 31, but this has never been confirmed. On April 19, after the elimination of a possible diagnosis for Ibaraki disease and other diseases, the samples were sent to the National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH), Epidemiological Research Team in Kodaira City, Tokyo for confirmation of FMD. It is possible the MAFF was notified at this point.
On April 20 (Day 0), the first confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Miyazaki Prefecture was reported, marking the first outbreak in Japan since 2000. The export of all Japanese Beef was banned. Miyazaki Prefectural government confirmed three suspicious cases in Tsuno Town and the AFF set up an FMD control and prevention department in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. The Minister of AFF Hirotaka Akamatsu was nominated chief officer. He received a report about a huge shortage of Virkon-S, disinfecting solution, from Itsuki Toyama, (DPJ, Miyazaki Pref.) Miyazaki Pref. started to disinfect the area by setting up with transportation restrictions and locations for sterilization. No orders or directions by the Minister of AFF Akamatsu were given. On April 21, local authorities experienced confusion due to a lack of guidance from the national government. There was not enough of the disinfectant prepared by a local agricultural union to be distributed to all the farmers. Miyazaki Livestock Improvement Association stopped producing the sperm straws which make up the major part of Japan's production (15,000 a year). The amount of stock in distribution would last for two months; remaining stocks for about one year. On April 22, the Vice-Minister of AFF, Yamada (DPJ), said at Congress, "I have heard about the Miyazaki situation just now." The House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was held and the Minister Akamatsu granted emergency budget. No details were given. Promises to prevent economic damage from the disease were given. Ideguchi, a chief contact officer of Miyazaki Veterinary Medical Association observed the development of the clinical condition of the first case of FMD and analyzed how delay had been caused because the development was so different from textbook conditions.
Miyazaki JA's Economic Agriculture Union Association received sodium carbonate for stock buildings or surroundings. Also disinfectant to sanitize vehicles and shoes became available. Distribution to all JA in Miyazaki started. On April 23, the first case of FMD at Tsuno-town was diagnosed as FMD (type O). The Minister of AFF, Akamatsu, announced that the Government would compensate for the costs of spraying disinfectants. On April 25, it was confirmed that 4 more cattle were infected. 1,108 cattle would be slaughtered. The number became the worst in Japanese FMD history in the past 100 years (cf. in the UK, at least 10 million animals were slaughtered in 2001). Miyazaki Pref. temporarily shut down a portion (1.5 km) of Route 307 where many farms were suspected of being contaminated. On April 27, 5 pigs at Kawaminami town in Koyu county next to Tsuno town were reported to be highly contaminated. The Governor Hideo Higashikokubaru, Kohichi Nakamura (a Chairperson of prefecture committee), and Masaharu Haneda (Chairperson of JA Miyazaki Central Committee) requested that the Minister of AFF Akamatsu to take a further step for an emergency budget. In order to prevent further spread, an investigation into the cause of FMD was requested as well. Ebino-city was confirmed with infection. Since the city is located next to the border of Kagoshima and Kumamoto, this brought more alarm to the area. The final case in Ebino city was found May 13. No further cases were found. Governor Higashikokubaru requested the support of the Minister of AFF Akamatsu and the Secretary-General of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Sadakazu Tanigaki. The Minister Akamatsu did not respond to this. On April 28, the Secretary-General of LDP Tanigaki visited Kawaminami town in Miyazaki Pref. Tanigaki works as a chief of the FMD Control and Prevention Department of the LDP.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that having 3 FMD cases in 4 months was very serious in the light of recent outbreaks in Japan and Korea. In the report, the FAO referred to the possibility of FMD spreading onwards from Japan and Korea - as had happened in South Africa, England, and Europe in 2001. The economic damage would be in millions of dollars and international surveillance was to be heightened. (reference: May 21, May 25) The government held its second meeting of the ruling DPJ-led FMD Control and Prevention Department headed by the Minister of AFF Akamatsu. It was made clear that the cost of disinfection spray at all the borders to other prefectures would be compensated by funds from the national reserve. An increase in the number of workers such as veterinarians who assist with slaughter for further prevention was also announced. (Note: There existed two different FMD departments at this point. The opposition LDP had set up one owing to the central government's [DPJ government] slow progress in controlling the outbreak.)