人と動物の共通感染症対策について
Measures Against Zoonosis
森田剛史 厚生労働省健康局結核感染症課 課長補佐
Takeshi MORITA, D.V.M. Deputy Director, Tuberculosis and Infectious Disease Division,
Health Service Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The Ministry of Health, Labor anddisease (or ʻgreen monkey diseaseʼ). Pathogens such as

Welfare takes preventive measures tothese and other new ones are being discovered.

protect people from infectious
diseases as stated in the Law

The occurrence of zoonosis depends on the distribution

Concerning Prevention of Infectiousof the pathogen carriers.

Diseases and Medical Care for Patients

If we look at the numbers of H5N1 Avian flu A virusof Infections (the Infectious Diseases

subtype patients worldwide, [slide 5], the orangeControl Law) I would like to talk about zoonosis,

numbers are the human cases reported at thediseases transmitted between humans and animals, inrespective locations since November 2003. The rest isrelation to human health and also touch on crisis

the number and areas where it was reported among

management during disasters.

livestock. There have been a large number of cases in
Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, China, andLet us consider the background of zoonosis, [Slide 2].

Thailand and there have been many cases in Egypt as

With the development of transportation systems,well. Although there have been cases of avian flu

people, as well as products are being carried around theamong livestock and wild birds, there have been noworld with increasing speed. On an annual basis, there

human cases in Japan. It could be said that this disease

are approximately 16 million travelers going overseas

is rarely transmitted to humans, only occurring in cases

from Japan. Of the items imported into Japan each year,

where there was extremely close contact with birds

food products alone account for about 30 million tons.

carrying the pathogen.

Likewise, with the development of mass media, theincreasingly speedy delivery of information is aﬀecting

In this slide [slide 6] we see the occurrences of rabies

human behavior and the distribution of products andaround the world. (The data is from two years ago).

items. Increasing population and urbanization have

There have been no cases in Japan for almost 50 years

pushed people into areas that were previouslyand many of us in Japan think rabies is a distant disease

uninhabited. But while the dramatic changes in societyof the past. However, as the map shows, there are only

have brought us some amazing developments,

a limited number of countries colored in blue, which

infectious diseases can spread worldwide rapidly.

refers to a so-called ʻcleanʼ country. We need to beaware that rabies is reported annually in many other

You may all recall the SARS (severe acute respiratory

countries such as China and India as well as insyndrome) corona virus which frightened the world inneighboring Asian countries. Although we have a2003, [slide 3]. Fortunately, there were no patients inquarantine system here, there is still a risk of rabies

Japan. However, news of an exposed traveler passing

entering Japan due to the large influx of people andthrough Japan caused us great concern. There is also

products. This is why there is a need to immunize dogs

the well-known E. coli 0-157, bacteria which causes foodwith rabies vaccination as a preventive measure.

poisoning. There are also pathogens that can cause
serious or fatal infection, all of which are kept in P4

There are other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes

secure facilities, [slide 4]. I am referring to pathogens[slide 7] such as malaria, dengue fever, West Nile fever,such as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, Marburg

chikungunya fever. The chikugunya fever is transmitted

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Crisis Management When Disaster Strikes

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between monkeys and mosquitoes. Although mostNow I will talk about crisis management in order tohuman cases are seldom fatal, the symptoms include

prevent spread of diseases when disasters occur, [slidehigh fever and body pains that last for some time. The12]. When a strong earthquake strikes, utilities such asmosquito (Aedes albopictus) is a carrier, a common

water and electricity fail. In many cases, it will not be

species found throughout Japan anywhere south ofsafe for people to stay at home so they may have to stay

Tohoku. If someone is exposed to the disease overseas

at refuge centers. It will take some time before life canand returns to Japan and is bitten by a mosquito in

return to normal. The stressful conditions will result in aJapan, it is likely the disease will spread. This is why

lowering of peopleʼs natural immune systems, making

preventive measures are important. There are posters

them more susceptible to illnesses. Also, sanitaryand flyers alerting travelers at airport immigration

conditions, such as the disposal of garbage and propercounters, [Slide 8].

sewage, are difficult to maintain. Those with pets willﬁnd that their animals also feel stress in such situations,

In the case of zoonosis in Japan, the Infectious Diseases

by not being able to be with their owners. Under

Control Law states that physicians who treat cases ofnormal circumstances, animals have the ability to ﬁght

the mentioned diseases are required to notify theinfections or illnesses. However their immunity could

district health center. The information is then relayed tobecome lowered due to stressful conditions, so pets

the national government via each prefectural

may fall sick. This can result in them transmitting illness

government. The data shown [slide 9] is for 2005

to each other. So measures to prevent pathogens being

through 2009 (up to Nov. 23). The blue numbers show

introduced into the human environment need to bepatients who were exposed mainly overseas andtaken. First of all, animalsʼ health must be always

developed symptoms after returning. Anywhere

maintained. It is also important to be careful whenbetween 50 to over 100 cases of dengue fever andhandling animals.

malaria are reported annually in Japan. The numbers inblack are those cases mainly originating in Japan. For

Here are some examples, [slide 13]. It is required by law

example, there are roughly 3,000 to 4,000 cases of EHEC

to register dogs and have them inoculated with anti-(enterohemorrhagic E. coli) reported every year. Thererabies vaccines. Other vaccinations are also needed toare other diseases, such as echinococcosis, that tend tokeep the dog healthy and their environment should beoccur only in certain areas of Japan.

kept clean. Plus, regular check-ups at the vet will help
early detection of illnesses whereby early treatment canPeople can be exposed to infectious diseases in abe provided. If you have any concerns or questions

number of ways. There are diseases like

about your petʼs health, always consult your vet.

enterohemorrhagic E.coli or hepatitis E [slide 10] which
can be contracted orally by eating contaminated meats

Next, it is important to be aware that, just as withthat are under cooked. Drinking water contaminated bypeople, even though an animal may appear to beechinococcosis is another source of exposure.

perfectly healthy, it may still be a pathogen carrier, [slidePathogens of parrot fever and Q fever are said to be14]. Close contact should be avoided and be sure to

found in the excretions and wastes of infected animals.

wash your hands after touching animals. In the case of

If these wastes dry out to be carried in dust, the inhaling

wild animals, needless to say, nobody knows what kindof such dust could cause contraction of the disease. Bugof pathogens they might be carrying so it is better tobites are another cause. Carriers like ticks could transfer

avoid contact as much as possible. In crisis situations,diseases like scrub typhus, Japanese spotted fever, andrefuge centers must be kept as hygienic as possible solime disease. Mosquitoes are known to carry Japanesethat pests such as rodents, mosquitoes are notencephalitis. Leptospirosis is spread through contact

attracted. Of course, everyday hygiene is important forwith rodent urine. One could be exposed unknowingly

ordinary life.

by touching contaminated water or soil.

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Workshop Ⅰ

Crisis Management When Disaster Strikes

Another way to prevent spread of infectious diseases isto be well-informed. There are books that offer
information but websites also have information on
infectious diseases, [slide 15]. Our ministry has awebpage on infectious diseases and the National
Institute of Infectious Diseases has a page where you
can retrieve information about illnesses, listed inhiragana order. Quarantine and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs provide information for travelers. We are
distributing a handbook today at the reception so䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪈䇽please take this opportunity to use it as referencematerial, [slide 16].
That concludes my talk, thank you.

䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪉䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪊䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪋䇽Workshop Ⅰ

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Workshop Ⅰ䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪌䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪐䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪍䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪈㪇䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪎䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪈㪈䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪏䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪈㪉䇽

Crisis Management When Disaster Strikes䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪈㪊䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪈㪋䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪈㪌䇽䇼㪪㫃㫀㪻㪼㩷㪈㪍䇽Workshop Ⅰ

Crisis Management When Disaster Strikes

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