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A private veterinarian first found a suspicious case in the affected farm and reported it to the local government’s veterinary service on 9 April 2010. An official veterinarian observed that a cow had fever, anorexia, salivation and erosions in the oral cavity on the same day but the others had no clinical signs. Since other two suspicious cases were found in the same farm on 16 April, the veterinary service examined similar diseases such as bluetongue, bovine viral diarrhoea-mucosal disease (BVD-MD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and Ibaraki disease but they showed negative results by PCR tests on 19 April 2010. The veterinary service submitted the samples to the National Institute for Animal Health (NIAH) on the same day. The NIAH affirmed the cattle were infected with foot and mouth disease virus by PCR test on 20 April 2010. The samples are being examined by virus isolation. If it is confirmed, it will be the first outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Japan since 2000.
All cattle in the affected farm were destroyed. Disinfection of affected premises is being implemented. Movement restrictions within 10km around the affected farm have been implemented. Export international veterinary certificates for ruminants and products derived from them have been suspended since 20 April 2010.
http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=9155
