余録：鳥インフルエンザ

(Mainichi Japan) March 3, 2009
Bird flu outbreak a change in fortune for 'lucky' quails
余録：鳥インフルエンザ

A passage from "Kiyu Shoran," a book published in the Bunsei Era (1818-1829) describing the "uzura awase" competition over the beauty of quails' songs, reads: "Each participant is supposed to create a pair (of cages) -- using karaki (Chinese wood), raden (shell or pieces of precious metals set in the lacquer) and takamakie (raised lacquer work) strewed with gold and silver ..."
　「金銀をちりばめ、唐木（からき）、象牙、螺鈿（らでん）、高蒔絵（たかまきえ）にて皆一双づつ作らせ」とあるのは、一体何の工芸品かと思うが、実はウズラの鳥籠（とりかご）だという。江戸時代、ウズラの鳴き声の良さを競った「鶉合（うずらあわせ）」流行の様子を記す文政年間の書物「嬉遊笑覧（きゆうしょうらん）」の一節だ

Bird lovers would gather early in the morning, split themselves into two teams -- east and west, as in sumo -- and see whose quail had the most beautiful song. Feudal lords and merchants are believed to have started the event, as the quails' call sounds like the word "gokitcho" (good luck).
▲江戸中の鳥好きはウズラがよく鳴く早朝から集まり、相撲のように東西に分かれ自慢の鳥の声を披露した。物好きなことだが、ウズラの鳴き声が「ゴキッチョー（ご吉兆）」と聞こえるということで大名や商人の間から広まった遊びらしい

Despite their association with good luck, however, quails at a breeding farm in Japan have been found infected with bird flu. The virus was identified as the H7N6 strain, with attenuated virulence. This is the first time that H7N6 has been discovered in Japan, with previous outbreaks in Slovakia, Mongolia and Australia.
▲その吉兆を告げてくれるはずのウズラの飼育場で発生したという鳥インフルエンザだ。ウイルスの検査で弱毒性のＨ７Ｎ６型と確認され、これまでスロバキアやモンゴル、オーストラリアで発見されているものの、国内での検出は初という

The farm is located in Aichi Prefecture where 70 percent of Japan's quails are bred. Moreover, quails at another farm in the prefecture subsequently tested positive for bird flu.
It's only natural that local quail breeders are concerned not only about a further spread of the virus, but also harmful rumors about quails. The government should take prompt measures to provide accurate information to consumers and residents, who shouldn't panic over the issue.
▲全国のウズラ生産の７割を占める愛知県のことだ。新たに近くの別の飼育場でも感染の疑いのある検体が見つかり、地元では感染拡大の不安とともに風評被害への懸念が広がるのも分かる。ここは行政が速やかに正確な情報を提供し、消費者も地元もそれを冷静に受け取ることだ

The virus was found during the first batch of tests conducted on quails as part of the national government's anti-bird flu policy. If it had been overlooked, the virus could have spread rapidly, or mutated into a deadlier strain. A disaster was avoided, thanks to the quails' sacrifice.
▲国の鳥インフルエンザ対策にもとづく初のウズラ検査で、発症前にウイルスを見つけた今回のケースである。見過ごせば知らぬ間に感染が広がり、ウイルスの毒性も変異していたかもしれない。つまりはウズラが身をもって告げた“凶兆”のおかげで最悪の事態は防げたといえる

One cannot help but wonder how the virus found its way into the farms in the first place. However, if the bad luck predicted by the quails is interpreted accurately, it could lead to a new clue toward future anti-bird flu measures. ("Yoroku," a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun)
▲それにしてもウイルスは一体どうやって飼育場内の鳥にとりついたのか。ウズラが示してくれた兆しをしっかりと読み取れば、今後の鳥インフルエンザ対策の新たな手がかりも見つかろう。

毎日新聞　2009年3月3日　0時04分