Incomplete public release of avian influenza gene sequences sparks controversy; Director of the Animal Health Research Institute verbally resigns
Text / Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine
Regarding media reports that the Council of Agriculture was perfunctory in disclosing avian influenza prevention and control information, the Animal Health Research Institute explained that it had publicly released the complete gene nucleotide sequences of 2 external segments (HA, NA) and 6 internal gene segments (MP, NP, NS, PA, PB1 and PB2) of the avian influenza virus. Staff misunderstood this as meaning that publishing the nucleotide sequences of the key regions of the 8 gene segments would provide the necessary information, and the failure to provide complete sequences caused confusion outside the institute. The Animal Health Research Institute is willing to review and improve, and this was not perfunctory or deceptive. In addition to already publishing the complete sequences in the avian influenza section, the institute's director has also orally offered his resignation to the minister in charge to show accountability.
The institute explained that the nucleotide sequences of the 8 gene segments of the novel H5 avian influenza virus already published online should, based on past experience of cooperation with academia, already be sufficient for outside analysis and comparison. In response to the need by outside scholars for in-depth research on this outbreak, the Animal Health Research Institute has also provided relevant contact information for outside parties. As for the parts that outside experts still consider insufficient, the Animal Health Research Institute has already published the complete sequences in the avian influenza section.
Regarding the omission of the PA amino acid sequence for the novel H5N8, an investigation found that initially the 7 amino acid sequences that had already been sequenced were published first, and after the PA segment amino acid sequence was subsequently completed, it was not updated promptly. The Animal Health Research Institute has conducted a thorough review and completed the updating of the relevant information.
The Animal Health Research Institute has long maintained a cooperative research relationship with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. In view of concerns about human health, on January 23 it provided the relevant amino acid sequences to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The ministry has used the sequences provided by the Animal Health Research Institute for analysis and comparison, and determined that the novel H5 avian influenza virus is still limited to transmission among poultry, with no cases of human infection, and that oseltamivir remains effective in treating the virus.
Regarding outside reports that no old-type H5N2 virus data after 2012 can be seen in the international viral gene database, the Animal Health Research Institute stated that at this stage it is devoting all its efforts to monitoring, testing and diagnosis at case farms and surrounding farms, in order to complete nucleic acid confirmation in the shortest possible time and provide an immediate backing for epidemic prevention. The institute is currently seeking cooperation with academia to assist with analysis work, so as to provide reference for outside parties.