The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has imposed a ban on all poultry and egg products produced, processed, or slaughtered in Missouri on or after February 28. MAFF took this action following a report from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that low pathogenic avian influenza H7N3 had been diagnosed in a commercial turkey flock in that state. Although the outbreak was initially confirmed on March 25, with final confirmation and reporting on March 29, MAFF’s cutoff date was set at 21 days before the date APHIS established as the earliest date of infection. Russia and Cuba have also placed bans on poultry that have been produced, processed, or slaughtered on or after March 28 and March 29, respectively. Under the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), low pathogenic avian influenza H5 and H7 are notifiable diseases.
