災害時における人と動物の共通感染症等の問題
The Problem of Zoonosis, etc during Emergency Crises
佐藤克 社団法人東京都獣医師会危機管理室 感染症対策セクション長
Masaru SATO Head of Tokyo Veterinary Medical Association,
Infections Counter-Measures Section, Crisis Management Group[Slide 1] My name is Masaru Sato. I am

outbreaks of zoonoses. There are people who attempt

a veterinarian and I have my own

to incite public anxiety by spreading pathogenic

established animal hospital in Tokyoʼs(disease-causing) agents.

Itabashi Ward.
[Slide 5] For instance, we can all imagine a biohazard
In September 2000, Itabashi Ward andsituation occurring in which a pathogenic agent

the Itabashi Ward Veterinary Medical

accidentally leaks from a laboratory. But today, I would

Association exchanged an agreement on animal rescue

like to talk speciﬁcally about zoonoses associated within times of disaster. Within this agreement it clearlynatural disasters.

states that, in the event of a disaster occurring, petowners will be evacuated accompanied by their pets.

Firstly, there are three factors that must come together

This provides a certain guarantee of physical safety forin order for zoonoses to break out. These are sources of

pet owners and their pets as well as safeguarding theinfection, infection routes, and human problems. Whenties between them. But it has been pointed out that this

all three of these conditions are present, Zoonoses can

has also created a new problem.

break out and spread.

[Slide 2] This new problem is zoonosis, a word that

[Slide 6] Because many of these problems derive fromrefers to any disease that can be transmitted fromanimals, I will speak of animals as sources of infection.

animals to humans or vice versa. In general, infectious

However, zoonoses are diseases that can come and go,

diseases do not cross the barriers between species. For

and they do not necessarily spread only from animals to

example, most human diseases only circulate amongpeople. For example, monkey dysentery was originally apeople, while most canine diseases only circulate

human disease, but now it is a disease that can spreadamong dogs. But there are some diseases that passfrom humans to monkeys and vice versa. Naturally,

across the barriers between species. These diseases are

there are diseases that can be transmitted from humans

called zoonoses. As Morita-sensei introduced earlier,to animals.

one deﬁnition of zoonosis is a disease or infection thatcan be naturally transmitted between humans andRegarding measures to counter the sources of infection,other vertebrates. Synonyms that mean much the samethe first requirement is to ensure animal health. This

thing include zoonitic diseases, zoonitic infections, andwas emphasized by Morita-sensei also. It is difficult toanimal-derived infectious diseases. [Slide 2]

identify which individuals are carrying pathogenic
agents. In almost all cases of zoonoses, the animals do[Slide 3] I think that in times of disaster, zoonosis will

not exhibit visible symptoms. So, while there are

emerge as a secondary problem associated with thesometimes visible symptoms to allow us to diagnose adeterioration of the public health environment thatdisease, it is usually very diﬃcult to grasp the situation.

occurs at such times.
In addition, animals should be vaccinated so that they
[Slide 4] Also, as a manmade problem, terrorism can beconsidered to be a contributing factor in generating

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Crisis Management When Disaster Strikes

do not contract diseases unnecessarily.

Moreover, it is important to maintain a certain degree of

the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It is essential todistance from animals. Morita-sensei also told us earlier

reduce the risk of receiving such wounds by taking

that people should avoid excessive contact withadequate precautions. Also, people should strictly

animals. Some people bring their pets into theobserve a routine of gargling and washing their hands

bedroom. As well as sleeping side by side, some people

after being in contact with animals or cleaning theireven bathe with their pets. Such excessive contact

living areas. In this way, it is possible to shut oﬀ infection

should be avoided.

routes.

As for security measures we can take regarding animals,

It is also important to keep the general environment intheir nails should be trimmed when necessary. Only

good condition. We can avoid animal-keeping places

animals that are normally gentle should be selected forbecoming sources of infection by never leaving animal

keeping. I think it is better not to keep an animal thatwaste or mess around and never permitting

has a tendency to bite deliberately.

contaminated situations to persist. Maintaining proper
food management is also vitally important.

Next, animal waste must be disposed of properly,
quickly and hygienically. There may be pathogenic

Morita-sensei told us earlier about the importance ofagents in the waste.

countermeasures against disease vectors such as
mosquitoes. We refer to those living organisms that

Also, animals should always be given safe food. For

transmit pathogenic agents as ʻvectorsʼ.

example, when animals eat food contaminated byCountermeasures against vectors include eliminating

bacteria such as Salmonella enterica or Escherichia coli,

water puddles in which mosquito larva can generate.

these bacteria can propagate inside the animalsʼ bodies

Also, they include installing mesh-screen doors or

and then go on to infect and harm humans. This can bemosquito nets that prevent mosquitoes from entering

avoided by only feeding animals with food that is safe.

rooms, using expellants and repellents, etc. Also, it is

For example, there is a disease called toxoplasma, whichvery important to provide people with information

can be transmitted to humans by cats that have eaten

about these things and thereby educate the public.

raw pork.
[Slide 8] On the human side, we all want to try to live
This is something that Yamaguchi-san also told us

healthily in order to enhance our resistance to disease.

about earlier, there have been cases of infected cats

We need to be vaccinated on occasion, and we should

brought into shelters that have soon spread diseases

try to avoid unnecessary stress which can cause a(such as colds) to the other cats. So when a new cat islowering in our resistance to disease.

brought in, it should be placed in isolation for a certain
period in order to check if it is carrying a disease that

Stronger countermeasures are required to protect

may be infectious to humans or other animals.

people with an increased susceptibility to infection.
These include infants, the elderly, people whose[Slide 7] Moving on to infection paths, direct routes

immunity level is lower (such as those with diabetes

include wounds such as bites and scratches. To

and alcohol dependency), who can very easily succumbminimize the chance of receiving such wounds (andto diseases and who are more prone to infection thanthereby closing oﬀ these infection routes) it is important

more healthy adults.

to wear long-sleeved tops, long trousers and gloves.
This way, such wounds can be avoided.

More than that, it is important to carry out public
relations. We need to give the public more information

Earlier, cases were introduced of volunteers who had

about infectious diseases through publicity campaigns,

been bitten by animals at the Rescue Centers following

so that people will acquire this knowledge.

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53

[Slide 9] When a major disaster happens, peopleof maintaining public hygiene.

evacuate to shelters, but there are various kinds ofshelter. For example, there are wide-area evacuation

Also, the mouths of dogs and cats commonly containcenters, temporary shelters, accommodation shelters,

extremely high levels of Pasteurella bacteria. Whenand temporary housing. There are also other styles ofvolunteers taking care of animals are bitten by canine or

evacuation, such as when individuals continue to live at

feline carriers of the bacterium the wounds are prone tohome but go to a shelter to obtain water which theyfestering. So this infection, called pasteurellosis, is athen take home.

problem that we cannot aﬀord to ignore.

[Slide 10] In every kind of evacuation, zoonosis canApart from this, echinococcosis is listed at the bottom.

occur to some degree. Firstly, in the case of wide-area

In the case of the Mount Usu eruption event inevacuation centers and temporary shelters, while they

Hokkaido, echinococcus parasites were detected in two

only tend to be short-period facilities they are likely todogs at a shelter, which were probably feral dogs. When

have a variety of animals present as they are locatedthe parasites infect humans, the result is

outdoors.

ʻechinococcosisʼ, a highly virulent and chronic parasitic
disease.

[Slide 11 and 12] Of course, there will be pet animals
brought there by their evacuated owners, but there[Slide 14] Next, we come to cat problems. Although it

may also be contact with wild animals such as raccoon

doesnʼt happen in Japan, cats in Thailand can becomedogs, rats, crows, or feral dogs and cats. Moreover, there

infected with a highly pathogenic strain of avian

is a possibility that arthropods such as mosquitoes, ﬂies,

inﬂuenza, which often kills them. In addition, there arefleas and mites will function as vectors in spreading

infections such as toxoplasma, etc. Also, with avian

disease. And although the following animals have little

species, there are mycotic fungal diseases such as

relation to spreading infectious diseases, in some places

cryptococcosis and the chlamydial disease parrot fever.

there are snakes and snapping turtles.

As was introduced earlier, when bird droppings become
dry and turn to dust, the people looking after the birds

Next, accommodation shelters and temporary housing

can inhale the pathogen with this dust and become

are facilities with roofs and walls in which people are

infected with psittacosis.

accommodated indoors. Earlier, we were told about an
instruction issued after the Chuetsu (Niigata)

Furthermore, in the case of rabbits, problems include

Earthquake to keep pet animals indoors. But when

pasteurellosis, mold and dermatophytosis or ringworm.

animals and people live together in closed room
conditions various problems may occur.

[Slide 15] Now, when it comes to wild animals, in thecase of wild rabbits and other rodents, etc., there is a

[Slide 13] Diﬀerent zoonoses can break out depending

zoonosis called tularemia. This can be infectious toon the environment. Let me give you a list of the

rabbits raised as pets, but I think its occurrence is rare.

speciﬁc kinds of diseases that may occur.

In addition, raccoon dogs and raccoons can spreadzoonoses, not necessarily if they are only pets inFirstly, there are problems that are common to dogs

shelters, but also if they are living wild in the vicinity ofand cats. As Morita-sensei introduced earlier, one ofa shelter. [Slide 14]

these is rabies. Strictly speaking, ﬂea bites and tick bites54

are not infections, but when animals are infested with

Then again, turtles, which are reptiles, can cause

ﬂeas, etc., they can cross over to people and bite themproblems with salmonellosis and mold, and venomousalso. Because such bites are so itchy, such infestations

snakes, although they donʼt cause infections, can poison

can be a major problem in shelters from the standpoint

people with toxins. That itself is another problem that

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Crisis Management When Disaster Strikes

needs consideration.

the sequestration site to look after them.

[Slide 16] So, in times of disaster, how should we carry

Regarding infection-route countermeasures, let meout zoonosis countermeasures? All in all, I think that

repeat what I said before. Those working with or

taking precautions on a routine basis is very important.

treating animals should take measures to ensure that

As for measures that should be applied to animals as

they will not be bitten or scratched. That means wearing

infection sources, keeping animal bodies clean should

long-sleeved clothes and gloves. As I said earlier, inbe normal practice as well as efforts to maintain theirorder to reduce the stress placed on the animals, we

health. This includes, for example, eradicating ﬂeas andneed to be skillful in handling animals too.

mites. When roundworm parasites living in dogs, catsand raccoons infect humans they can cause a disease[Slide 17] When dealing with animal waste products in

known as toxocariasis. Such gastrointestinal parasites

shelters, sometimes water is in short supply, so latrine

should therefore be expelled as well. Also, we should

facilities should be contrived in such a way that there is

inject animals with as many vaccines as possible. As

little need to perform cleaning. For instance, use petthere is a vaccine for leptospirosis I recommend

sheets and place waste, sheets, etc., in plastic bags for

vaccinating animals if working in areas where it occurs.

disposal.

My next point does not directly concern zoonosis but,Also, if the preference is for dogs to defecate or urinate

when a disaster occurs, even if people evacuate

outside when taking them for walks, they should be

together with their pets to a shelter, it is virtually

allowed to relieve themselves but within a limited area.

impossible for them to shelter in exactly the same spot.

Alternatively, they should be kept within the grounds ofUsually, a place or space for keeping pet animals will be

the shelter in order to minimize any public healthdesignated and the pets are kept in cages there. So it isproblems.

necessary for people to train their pets to be able toremain in a cage quietly and not become stressed byPeople who look a f ter a nima ls shou ld p r o te ct

the experience.

themselves by strictly observing a protocol of washing
their hands and gargling after taking care of animals,Also, general contact between people and animals is

etc.

usually banned within shelters except between the pets
and their owners, and the people who are taking care ofMoreover, uneaten food can become very unsanitary,

the animals. This is because evacuation into a shelter is

attracting flies and wild animals, which creates

an unusual situation for the animals and it is very likely

additional problems. So it is necessary to dispose ofthat they will become upset. So contact is prevented inuneaten food in a timely fashion after putting it into

order to avoid accidents such as biting, etc. Also, inplastic bags, etc.

order to avoid unnecessary wounds, it is best to prevent
different animals from coming into contact with each

It is also necessary to take measures to prevent

other.

ou tbrea k s of ra ts, f lies a nd mosqu itoes in th eenvironment, and to prevent such animals from getting

Furthermore, not all dogs and cats placed in shelters

into the shelter.

will necessarily have been cleared of ﬂeas and mites. So
when such animals are sheltered they need to be[Slide 18] With regard to human countermeasures,checked for ﬂeas and mites. These should be eradicatedpeople need to pay attention to their own health on aas necessary. Also, shelter workers need to figure out

routine basis. Also, when a disaster occurs, consider that

good ways and control methods so that pet owners doanimals are likely to be in an abnormal psychologicalnot cause unnecessary stress to their pets when visiting

state, so people should not try to protect or carelessly

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55

touch an unknown animal on a whim just because it isis conducted as part of the overall evacuation exercise.

in a sorry state. That is also important.

In this exercise, a temporary animal rescue center is set
up to accept the animals. In the picture, we can see a

Also, it is necessary for vaccination to be performed on

dog and a volunteer holding its lead. And at theany pets being kept by owners. We have to more

reception point, the rescue center exchanges

intensively consider the issue of people who are more

documents with the owners and then takes in thesusceptible to infection, as I have just described, and toanimals. In this case, the shelter was set up in the cornerdeal with this appropriately.

of a local school. The animals taken in were placed incages and managed separately. Among them, there[Slide 19] Finally, what I have said can be summarized aswere dogs that had been separated from their owners

follows. In times of disaster, sanitary conditions

for the ﬁrst time. A considerable number of these dogs

deteriorate due to the collapse of infrastructure.

were pining, yelping or barking. Even now, volunteers

Zoonoses occur more readily under poorer sanitary

are continuing to train to look after such animals in

conditions. In order to avoid the occurrence ofways that minimize the chance of accidents while

infectious diseases, routine advance preparations areproviding mental support for their charges.

very important - for example, training our animals,
vaccination, etc., and measures aimed at individualMy explanation may have been a little patchy, but I willdogs and cats such as eradicating fleas and ticks.

end my talk here. Thank you very much for listening.

Moreover, if we pro-actively seek out places where we
can keep animals during times of evacuation, and areas
for walks and exercise, we can reduce some of theconfusion that occurs when disaster strikes.
Since we have a little more time, I will explain briefly
about the agreement we have made in Itabashi Ward,
which I mentioned at the beginning.
This agreement clarifies the roles played by Itabashi
Ward and the Itabashi Ward Veterinary Medical
Association concerning animal rescue and protection. It
states that, at the time of a major disaster, the Itabashi
Ward Veterinary Medical Association will rescue pets
and that Itabashi Ward will cooperate with this activity.
In the agreement, it also clearly states that, “pet owners
will be evacuated accompanied by their pets.” But
regarding animals that are impossible to bring alongwith their evacuating owners, Itabashi Ward will
establish a rescue center where it will keep theseanimals. This agreement was concluded in September
2000. Since then, Itabashi Ward has carried out animalaccompanied evacuation disaster prevention exercises
periodically. The comprehensive disaster prevention
priority district system divides the ward into 18 districts,
and each year an exercise is carried out in designateddistricts. The animal-accompanied evacuation exercise

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